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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of James E. "Jim" Smith of Biggsville,
4who passed away on December 3, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Smith was born to Loren J. and Mona F. Smith
6in McDonough County on February 3, 1929; he and his family
7lived in the Prairie City, Kirkwood, and Biggsville rural
8areas until they permanently moved to Biggsville when he was
9in grade school; he graduated from Biggsville High School in
101947, where he was the lead scorer for the basketball team his
11junior and senior years and a key player during the team's
12successful 1946-47 season with a record 25 wins and five
13losses; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Jim Smith began working at various jobs after
15completing high school, including in construction and as a
16salesman for the McCullough Lumber Company in Monmouth, until
17he was enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1951; he served as a
18member of the military police, attaining the civilian
19equivalent of police sergeant 1, and was stationed in Japan
20during the Korean War; he was honorably discharged in 1953;
21and
 
22    WHEREAS, Jim Smith married Vallie H. Ravenscraft on

 

 

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1September 8, 1952; they began to raise their family while
2residing in Biggsville, where they lived until they moved to
3the Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab Center in Stronghurst in
4January 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Smith worked as a salesman, in general
6construction, and at Gale Products in Galesburg for 25 years
7before retiring as a janitor/preventative maintenance man at
8Union High School in 2004; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim Smith was a member of the Biggsville
10Presbyterian Church; throughout the years, he contributed his
11time towards helping the church in various capacities,
12including landscaping and repairs; he also served as a
13volunteer coach throughout the years that his sons, Lyle,
14Alan, and Stan, played on Little League and Pony League
15baseball teams; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Jim Smith was an avid gardener, bird watcher, and
17sportsman; he was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the
18Chicago Bears, and he supported all local athletic teams
19throughout his life; after retirement, he and Vallie enjoyed
20taking long weekend drives to attend flea markets and taking
21short trips to visit children, grandchildren, and other family
22members; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Smith was preceded in death by his wife,
2Vallie Smith; his parents; his sisters, Katheryn Adair and
3Rosie Bushong; and his sons, Alan Smith and Stanley Smith; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jim Smith is survived by his children, Brenda J.
5(Keith) Jones, Lyle J. (Carol) Smith, and Teresa M. (Kelvin)
6Echols; his sisters, Laura Marie Renwick and Margaret Patton;
7his brother, Robert (Betty) Smith; his grandchildren, Josh
8Meyer, Heather D. (Josh) Fuchs, Christian M. Walker, Max J.
9(Reiven) Echols, Grace C. Echols, and Stella R. Echols; eight
10great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and many
11nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14James E. "Jim" Smith and extend our sincere condolences to his
15family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
16further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Jim Smith as an expression of our
19deepest sympathy.