TITLE: In memory of Cherry Rainone of Arlington.

SUMMARY: In memory of Cherry Rainone of Arlington.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the passing of Cherry Ruth Rainone of Arlington on March 8, 2012, at the age of 82; and WHEREAS, Born on the Harrison Farm in Shelby County on February 10, 1930, the former Cherry Harrison was the daughter of Dean and Beulah Harrison; in 1946, she moved to Fort Worth, and she went on to graduate from Arlington Heights High School; she showed early talent as a writer and was encouraged to develop her craft by her mother's first cousin, country music and movie star Tex Ritter, and her paternal grandfather, Jacob Harrison; and WHEREAS, This gracious and gifted Texan was joined in matrimony to Dr. Carl Rainone, and they became the parents of four children, Frank, Greg, Pete, and Tom; while her sons were young, Mrs. Rainone frequently welcomed their friends into her home; she was a rancher, an organic farmer, and an excellent cook, and her husband, the team dentist for the Texas Rangers, often brought players home to enjoy the wonderful Italian meals she prepared; baseball greats Ted Williams, Phil Rizzuto, and Billy Martin were among her guests, as were family, friends, and Hollywood actors; and WHEREAS, From her youth, Mrs. Rainone wrote for local and national publications; she also composed poetry and lyrics that were used in productions in Fort Worth and Arlington, as well as in movies her son Tom worked on in Hollywood; an art aficionado, she founded Rainone Galleries with her husband in 1955, and she promoted, collected, and sold the work of Texan and American artists before it was fashionable; her gallery helped build some of the top American art collections in the country, among them the Bill and Irma Runyon Collection of American Art at Texas A&M University; Mrs. Rainone assisted in the selection of paintings for the Jack Blanton family, which are now housed in the Blanton Museum at The University of Texas at Austin, and she played a role in the acquisition of early Texas art for the State Capitol; in 2003, she was featured in Texas Monthly magazine's "Texas Women" edition; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Rainone loved animals and rescued numerous pets over the years; keen on fishing, she enjoyed taking trips throughout Texas and all over the world with her husband and their friends; Dr. and Mrs. Rainone shared a fulfilling marriage until his untimely death in 1987; and WHEREAS, Although Cherry Rainone is deeply missed, memories of her engaging personality, her kindness, and her wisdom remain to comfort those she left behind; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Cherry Ruth Rainone and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her sons Frank Rainone, Greg Rainone and his wife, Suray, Pete Rainone, and Tom Rainone; to her granddaughter, Emily Morgan; to her great-grandson, Cannen; to her brothers and sisters, Madelyn Cooley, Faye Spence, Carroll Harrison, Jerrell Harrison, Sam Harrison, and Mary Nicolaus; and to her many other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Cherry Ruth Rainone. Patrick Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 36 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 18, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House