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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply
3saddened to learn of the death of Clarence Henry Smithson, who
4passed away on September 18, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson was born on November 4, 1931, to
6John Lee and Lou Ora Smithson, the eighth child of 10; he
7attended St. Vincent de Paul grade school, Immaculate Mother
8High School, and Xavier University in New Orleans; he received
9his bachelors of science degree in biology and his master's
10degree in science education from Tennessee A&I State
11University; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson married Abbie on July 17, 1952,
13her birthday; they soon had 3 daughters, Janice, Jacquelyn, and
14Jean; he bragged that he named all 3 daughters; 10 years later
15they had two sons, Clarence Jr. and Clarence III; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson served as a medic in the United
17States Armed Forces from August 1953 to August 1955, at Fort
18Knox, Kentucky; he worked as a lab technician at Vanderbuilt
19University and taught biology at Cameron High School; he then
20went to work for World Book Encyclopedia and worked for them
21for 31 years in various managerial positions, until retiring in
221991; he met every sales goal and won several contests at World

 

 

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1Book Encyclopedia, and in 1961 won the coveted Flying Circus
2Award, which came with a trip around the world for 30 days; he
3and Abbie would see France, England, Egypt, Thailand, India,
4and Hawaii; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson and Abbie moved to Country Club
6Hills in 1980; they were members of St. Emeric's Catholic
7Church and have been involved in several ministries; in 1982,
8Clarence and Abbie welcomed their daughter, Janice and their
9granddaughters, Toi and Briana, into their home to live; in
10October of 1997, Clarence and Abbie were honored by the diocese
11with the Tolton Award for Catholic stewardship and service; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson and Abbie purchased 7 homes
13through the years, and Clarence enjoyed spending his time
14revamping and rebuilding the basements of these homes to create
15recreation rooms for his family and friends to enjoy; he was an
16avid pool player, and enjoyed listening to music and playing
17table tennis with anyone who came into his home; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson was preceded in death by his
19parents, John and Lou Ora; his siblings, John Smithson Jr.,
20Mary Craighead, Launa Craighead, and Lael Fields; and his two
21sons, Clarence Jr. and Clarence III; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Clarence Smithson is survived by his wife, Abbie;

 

 

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1his daughters, Janice (Elbert) Heno, Jacquelyn Howard, and Jean
2Smithson-Bell; his grandchildren, Toi (Paul) Hutchinson,
3Briana (David) Ramsey, Dwight Howard II, Jordan Bell, and
4Joseph Bell; his great-grandchildren, Paul Hutchinson Jr.,
5Camryn Hutchinson, Ryan Hutchinson, Diondre Howard, and David
6Ramsey Jr.; his sisters, Dorcas Alley, Verleon Grant, Kitty
7Haswell, and Sister Sandra Smithson; and more than 400 nieces
8and nephews spanning 5 generations; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
11Clarence Smithson, and we extend our sincere condolences to his
12family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
13further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Clarence Smithson as an expression
16of our deepest sympathy.