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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Machelle Long of Danville, who passed
4away on December 26, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Machelle Long was born in Danville to Beverly
6Sharp on July 31, 1956 and raised in Oakwood by her mom and
7grandparents; she graduated from Oakwood Township High School
8in 1974, where she was the homecoming queen, and married Carl
9Neal later that same year; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Machelle Long was employed with the Vermilion
11County Clerk's office, beginning her 24-year career in 1995 as
12a Vital Records Specialist; she served for many years as the
13Chief Deputy to the Vermilion County Clerk and most recently
14served as Assistant Chief Deputy for Vermilion County Vital
15Records; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Machelle Long's greatest passion was genealogy;
17she spent countless personal hours over her career working with
18genealogists, both local and around the world, searching
19library microfilms or walking old cemeteries to help families
20piece together their story; her proudest moment was receiving
21the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service
22Award in 2014 for locating the unmarked grave of Civil War

 

 

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1Medal of Honor recipient Martin McHugh; she committed her own
2time, energy, research skills, and personal finances to obtain
3congressional approval for a commemorative headstone for
4McHugh and his wife Catherine; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Machelle Long was affectionately known as
6"Maw-Maw"; her greatest joys were her grandsons, and her eyes
7would sparkle when talking of Braxtyn's accomplishments on and
8off the football field, of what an incredible performer Curtis
9was, and of how much of a loving nature "her sweet Cam" had;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, Machelle Long was preceded in death by her mother,
12Beverly; her sister, Sharon; her grandparents, Paul and Violet
13Sharp; and her aunt and uncle, Connie and Gary Behrens; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Machelle Long is survived by her son, Ryan Neal;
15her daughter, Megan Neal; her grandsons, Braxtyn Schroeder,
16Curtis Beasley, and Camryn Neal; her bonus children, Misty,
17Dusti, and Ricky Long; her sisters, Joy (Bill) Greenway and
18Lynn Wasielewski; her brother, Darrin Deck; her aunt, Sandra
19(Gary) Criss; her former husband, good friend, and father of
20her two children, Carl Neal; and numerous extended family and
21friends; therefore, be it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Machelle Long and extend our sincere condolences to her family,
3friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Machelle Long as an expression of
6our deepest sympathy.