TITLE: In memory of James Wesley Utley of Mineola.

SUMMARY: In memory of James Wesley Utley of Mineola.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Family and friends will long cherish their memories of James Wesley Utley of Mineola, who passed away on September 17, 2014, at the age of 83; and WHEREAS, This lifelong Texan was born on April 28, 1931, in Gordon; Mr. Utley lived in De Leon and Sweetwater before moving in 1956 to Mineola, where he resided for the rest of his life; he and his wife, Frances, shared a marriage that spanned 63 years, and the couple raised four children, Rickey, Wendell, Latrena, and Sheila; Mr. Utley attended church at the First Assembly of God in Mineola; and WHEREAS, At the age of 17, Mr. Utley began his career with the railroad system; he worked for the Texas and Pacific Railway Company and stayed on when the company joined with the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1976; he also continued in his vocation when the MPR was approved to merge with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1982; in December 1990, Mr. Utley retired after more than 42 years of unwavering service; and WHEREAS, Known affectionately as "Big Jim," James Utley enjoyed a life that was rich in the intangibles that matter most, and he is deeply missed by all those who held him dear; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of James Wesley Utley and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Frances Utley; to his sons, Rickey Utley and his wife, Wanda, and Wendell Utley and his wife, Allison; to his daughters, Latrena Buchanan and her friend, Ricky Ramirez, and Sheila Valek and her husband, Darren; to his grandchildren, Klo, Justin, Caleb, Daniel, Brittney, Andrea, Cassie, and Hannah; to his great-grandchildren, Lane and Katherine; to his caretaker, Jeannie Moore; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James Wesley Utley. Hughes Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 167 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 19, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House