SR1136 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1136 LRB102 28543 LAW 40420 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jason Edward McDowell, O.D. of Jacksonville, who passed away on July 31, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McDowell was born to Edward E. and Andrea R. (Thompson) McDowell in Iowa City, Iowa on September 12, 1973; as a youth, he excelled in baseball, playing through college; he graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1991; he attended Hannibal-LaGrange University; he then obtained his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis; he married Mary Ellen Laws in Hannibal, Missouri on December 12, 1992; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McDowell began his career in optometry in Hannibal and Pittsfield; he moved to Jacksonville in 2001, where he began working for the International Eye Care Center; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McDowell was an active member of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher; he coached basketball at Westfair Christian Academy and served as chairman of the Parent Teacher Fellowship; he also served on the Pathway Board and Jacksonville Salvation Army Board and was a member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McDowell loved all things sports, especially basketball, golf, and running; he also enjoyed traveling, boating, attending mission trips, spending time with family and friends, eating ice cream, grilling, taking jeep rides, and helping people; he especially loved making people laugh; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McDowell is survived by his wife; his parents; his sons, Clayton E. McDowell and Carter T. McDowell (fiancée, Mollie Huff); his brothers, Jeremy (Lisa) McDowell and Justin McDowell; and his aunt, Amy Phillips; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jason Edward McDowell, O.D. of Jacksonville and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. McDowell as an expression of our deepest sympathy.