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 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois  were  saddened  to  learn of the death of Katherine
 4    Viola Bell of Chicago on June 15, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell was born on June 11, 1911  the  eldest
 6    child  of David Reuben Dorsey and Melissa Culpepper Dorsey in
 7    Montgomery, Alabama; when Katherine was nine  years  old  the
 8    family moved to Chicago where they resided on the south side;
 9    her  father  along  with  his  brother Joseph operated Dorsey
10    Brothers Tailors; her mother assisted them in  the  business;
11    growing  up  she and her family were members of Eighth Church
12    of Christian Scientist; and

13        WHEREAS,  Mrs.  Bell  attended  Chicago  Public   Schools
14    including Ray Elementary School and she graduated from McCosh
15    Elementary  School;  at  age  nine  she  enrolled  in The Art
16    Institute of Chicago on a scholarship;  there  she  developed
17    her  skill  and love of the arts; in 1930, she graduated from
18    Englewood High School; from there she  studied  drafting  and
19    architectural arts at Armour Institute, which is now Illinois
20    Institute of Technology; she moved to Los Angeles, California
21    and  attended  Frank  Wiggins  School  studying  graphics and
22    commercial art; and

23        WHEREAS, In 1933, after an earthquake in  California  she
24    returned  to Chicago and shortly afterward married William L.
25    Bell; to this union was born a son William "Billy" Bell,  Jr.
26    in 1935; and

27        WHEREAS,  All  of  her life she had a passion for art and
28    cultural activities; she was an excellent pianist and artist;
29    she taught individual piano lessons and also  taught  art  at
30    the  South  Side Community Art Center and was a teacher there
31    under the WPA when Eleanor Roosevelt came to Chicago in  1941
32    to  dedicate  the  Center;  she  also taught art, sewing, and
 
                           -2-       LRB093 12286 KEF 17472 r
 1    millinery crafts for many  years  at  Chicago  Park  District
 2    locations including Foster Park and Washington Park; and

 3        WHEREAS,  As  an  artist her works were exhibited at many
 4    venues throughout Chicago including the South Side  Community
 5    Art  Center,  The  Beverly Arts Center, The State of Illinois
 6    Building, The Museum of Science and Industry, and the Chicago
 7    Cultural Center; in addition, she was a member of The  Senior
 8    Arts Network; and

 9        WHEREAS, Mrs. Bell's passing will be deeply felt by many,
10    especially  her  son,  William Bell (daughter-in-law Beulah);
11    her grandchildren, Carolyn Bell Richards  and  William  Bell,
12    III;  her sister, Rosalie Davis (brother-in-law Charles); her
13    five great grandchildren, Jasmine, Sydney, Eboni,  Scott  and
14    David; and several nieces, nephews and friends; therefore, be
15    it

16        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
17    ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of
18    Katherine Viola Bell along with all who knew  and  loved  her
19    and extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends;
20    and be it further

21        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
22    presented to  the  family  of  Katherine  Viola  Bell  as  an
23    expression of our deepest sympathy.