TRU® Texas Team Members Put Heart Into a Home

In July 2025, devastating floods swept through the Texas Hill Country, claiming more than 130 lives. Among them was Julian Ryan Rounsley, who died saving his fiancée, Christinia, their children and his mother.

As the family began the difficult journey of rebuilding in the wake of tragedy, a new home became an important step forward.

Jeni Ware, a member of the Kerrville community as manager of Clayton Homes® of Kerrville, knew of Julian's heroics before she was introduced to Christinia through the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, which provides aid to families impacted by the flooding with home repairs and, if necessary, relocation.

After helping Christinia pick a TRU home, Jeni relayed Christinia's story to leadership at TRU Texas, a Clayton® home building complex in Belton, and they shared it with more than 600 TRU team members during facility meetings.

As the home moved through the production process, team members, without prompting or guidance, began signing and leaving messages of encouragement on the subfloor. They wrote scripture, prayers and blessings above doorways, inside window casings and in other areas that were covered by finished flooring, walls and trim.

They stenciled the message "For Julian" on the I-beam of the home's chassis, which is part of the home's foundation.

"I had the opportunity to walk through the home during production and add my own message alongside theirs," said TRU Texas Regional Brand Experience Manager Keith Baker. "Seeing what other teammates wrote throughout the house was one of the most meaningful experiences I've had during my time with TRU and Clayton."

Once the home was delivered from the TRU Texas complex to its new community, Home Consultant Cameron Cormier and his family built a pantry cabinet and stocked it with food items and other home essentials donated by the Clayton Homes of Kerrville team.

In addition to the full pantry, Christinia was welcomed into her new TRU home with gift baskets and a signed book filled with pictures of the home building process, closeups of the messages left by team members and memorials made in Julian's honor.

Christinia (left) is welcomed home by Clayton Homes of Kerrville Home Consultant Cameron Cormier.

"We are so grateful that we have been able to work with so many families impacted by the flood," said Jeni. "Everyone in our community was affected, or lost someone, in 2025. It feels wonderful for our team to make a difference by doing something so meaningful, physical and tangible."