[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 133 (Thursday, September 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN MEMORY OF BILLIE LOU ``PEACHES'' PARKER BROOKSHIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2003

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the citizens of Tyler, 
Texas, lost one of their dearest and most influential members, Billie 
Lou ``Peaches'' Parker Brookshire, who passed away at the age of 72 
following a lengthy illness.
  The Brookshire family has long been known in the Tyler area for their 
many contributions to East Texas--with Peaches being a central figure 
in their philanthropy. Peaches was actively involved in numerous worthy 
causes, including the Salvation Army Center of Hope, Junior League of 
Tyler, Tyler Junior Garden Club, American Cancer Society, Susan G. 
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, Green 
Acres Baptist Church, All Saints Episcopal School, Grace Community 
School and Hospice of East Texas. In all that she did and with all whom 
she met, she brought enthusiasm, compassion, a positive attitude and a 
legendary sense of humor. Peaches also was an accomplished artist. 
Several of her paintings were recently donated to the Tyler Cancer 
Center to encourage patients receiving treatment there.
  Above all Peaches was a devoted wife to her husband and partner of 53 
years, Bruce, whom she met while attending the University of Texas at 
Austin, and a loving and loyal mother and mother-in-law to Tim and 
Michelle and to Britt and Sunni. She was known endearingly as ``honey'' 
to her nine grandhildren: Amy, Clint, Garnett, Blake, Chad, Ross, 
Caroline, Emma and Bruce, Jr. Clint Brookshire ably served as my 
Congressional Assistant in Washington, D.C., and later as District 
Assistant in my Rockwall, TX, office, before pursuing another career in 
Dallas. He was a valued and well-liked member of my staff and remains 
my good friend. Peaches maintained a close relationship with Decie 
Brookshire, mother of Clint and the two other eldest grandchildren. She 
also leaves behind her two dear sisters and their husbands, Kay and 
Darrold Cannon Jr. and Judy and Ray Clymer Jr. of Wichita Falls; her 
mother-in-law and lifelong friend, Mrs. Louise Brookshire of Tyler; 
numerous nieces and nephews; and caregivers Jeanell and Jesse 
Richardson of Tyler.
  Peaches was the daughter of William Garnett Parker and Opal Louise 
Parker of Wichita Falls. She attended Midwestern State University and 
the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Kappa 
Kappa Gamma sorority. Her grandfather, C.H. Parker, opened Parker Food 
Stores in Wichita Falls in the 1920s, the same time that her father-in-
law, W.T. Brookshire, was opening his first Brookshire's Grocery Store 
in Tyler.
  I have known Peaches and Bruce and their family for many years and 
have loved and admired them for their ability to so ably balance work, 
family and community commitments. They are one of the outstanding 
families in the Fourth Congressional District--and their efforts have 
helped so many in their community. In recognition of their many 
significant contributions, Peaches and Bruce were named the recipients 
of the 2002 Isadore Roosth Outstanding Philanthropist Award in Tyler.
  Peaches was devoted to her family, her faith, and her community--and 
was a model of grace, goodness, and good humor. She was a friend and an 
inspiration to so many--and she will be fondly remembered by all those 
who knew her and loved her. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege today for me 
to pay tribute to an exemplary woman and outstanding citizen of East 
Texas who made an indelible impression on all those who met her--
Peaches Parker Brookshire. She will be dearly missed.

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