TITLE: In memory of Linda Lelia Susan "Muffie" Moroney of Houston.

SUMMARY: In memory of Linda Lelia Susan "Muffie" Moroney of Houston.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Linda Lelia Susan Moroney of Houston, an esteemed attorney and champion of social justice, who passed away on April 19, 2021, at the age of 77; and WHEREAS, Born in Washington, D.C., on May 27, 1943, "Muffie" Moroney was the daughter of Jessie Robinson Moroney and Robert Moroney; she grew up in Houston, but her character was also shaped by frequent visits to her mother's family in then-rural Fort Bend County; a proud graduate of St. John's School in Houston and Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Virginia, she worked for the National Security Agency before returning to Texas; she married Clarence Renshaw II, and they became the parents of two treasured sons, Robert and Justin; following a divorce, she enrolled in the University of Houston Law Center and received her degree in 1982; and WHEREAS, After completing a clerkship with the 14th Court of Appeals, Ms. Moroney worked for Vinson & Elkins and several other Houston law firms; she went on to open a solo litigation practice and later joined forces with her son, Justin, in the Renshaw firm; benefiting the legal community, she served on the alumni board of the University of Houston Law Center; and WHEREAS, Ms. Moroney's knowledge of the law spurred her to enter the political sphere in the fight for equity and social progress; a cofounder of the River Oaks Area Democratic Women, she served on its executive committee, and together with Sherrie Matula and Diane Mosier, she launched an offshoot, the Sisters United Alliance, to encourage more Texas women to vote; her wide circle of friends included state and local civic leaders, many of whom she also mentored; while energetically organizing and fundraising for worthy causes, she further served on the board of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and the alumni boards of St. John's School and Randolph-Macon Woman's College; and WHEREAS, Sustained by a strong faith, Ms. Moroney was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral and served on the board of the Episcopal Church Publishing Company; as a lay leader in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, she advocated for the power of the laity and strove to advance inclusivity in the denomination and society as a whole; her advocacy was always as gracious and respectful as it was resolute, and in later years, she engaged increasingly in interfaith dialogue, participating in women's groups and gaining new friends from diverse backgrounds; and WHEREAS, Ms. Moroney was devoted to her family, which grew to include two daughters-in-law, Alisha and Lynne, as well as four grandchildren, Carrie, Beverly, Emerson, and Catherine; she looked after not only her dog, Sweet, but also a coterie of feral cats; and WHEREAS, Guided by deep compassion and an unyielding sense of justice, Muffie Moroney made a positive difference in the world around her, and she is deeply missed by all who were privileged to share in her love and friendship; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Linda Lelia Susan Moroney and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Muffie Moroney. Morales Shaw Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1018 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 14, 2021. Chief Clerk of the House