SR0341LRB097 13754 KXB 58307 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Julia G. "Judy" Morris of Peoria, who
4passed away on September 26, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, She was born on September 7, 1933, in Galesburg to
6Lloyd and Mildred M. (Griggs) Gerstenberger; she married
7Richard "Bud" Smith on March 14, 1954 and he preceded her in
8death; she later married Dearl Morris on September 23, 1989, in
9Chillicothe; and
 
10    WHEREAS, She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1951;
11she attended the University of Illinois, majoring in elementary
12education and psychology; she was a proud member of Kappa Alpha
13Theta sorority and was active with the university choir and was
14an Illini cheerleader; she was also a longtime member of PEO,
15Chapter FBA; she was a member of the Chillicothe Plymouth
16Congregational (UCC) Church for many years, serving on the
17building committee from 1959 to 1962, and as a Sunday School
18teacher and youth group leader; she was also a member of the
19choir and women's fellowship; and
 
20    WHEREAS, She served on the Hillcrest Nursery School Board;
21she was a Girl Scout leader and trainer; she was a longtime
22board member of the Friendship House of Christian Service, and

 

 

SR0341- 2 -LRB097 13754 KXB 58307 r

1served on the board of directors, women's auxiliary, and helped
2develop the County Child Abuse Prevention Council; she was
3awarded the annual Love A Child award in 1988 for her work; and
 
4    WHEREAS, She and her first husband were stationed in
5Geneva, Switzerland, with Caterpillar for 7 years; while in
6Geneva, the family attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church,
7where she was very active in and with the COSA Wives, helping
8newly arrived Caterpillar families adjust to their new
9surroundings and culture; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Most recently, she was an active member of the
11Friends of Clonmel, Peoria's Irish sister city; she and her
12husband also helped host several families from Ireland on their
13visits to the United States; she was a collector of
14international Nativity sets, displaying and sharing the
15collection with various churches and organizations over the
16years throughout the Christmas season; and
 
17    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her first husband,
18Richard Smith; her parents; and her brothers, Charles and
19George; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Julia Morris is survived by her husband, Dearl;
21her son, Ross (Linda) Smith; her daughters, Laura (Len) Berg
22and Cindy (Danny) Erickson; her stepson, Skip (Paula) Morris;

 

 

SR0341- 3 -LRB097 13754 KXB 58307 r

1her sister, Carolyn Evans; her 7 grandchildren; her 6
2step-grandchildren; and her 2 step-great-grandchildren;
3therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
6her family and friends, the passing of Julia Morris; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Julia Morris as a symbol of our
10sincere sympathy.