HR0273 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0273 LRB096 12284 GRL 25109 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jimmie Lee Pierce of Springfield, who passed away on March 13, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce was born on June 4, 1921 in Redden, Oklahoma; he was the son of Joshua L. and Mary Hardgrave Pierce; he married Donna Rich on April 13, 1950 in Minonk; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce was born and raised on a farm in Oklahoma, though early in his life he had the opportunity to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals; Jimmie was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to his service in the United States Army during World War II, where he earned three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce attended the Diesel Engineering School in St. Louis, Missouri; he was a co-owner of Pierce Refined Oil and served as an executive with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce enjoyed spending time with his family and entertaining friends; he also enjoyed fishing, golf, hunting, playing his guitar, and singing; he was a member of Church of the Little Flower, the DAV, the Elks Club, and the Springfield Motor Boat Club; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Lonnie, Ray, Ed, Perry, and Haskel; and his sister, Vesta; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Donna Pierce; his daughters, Denise (husband, John) Reid and Delane (husband, Ken) Cathers; his grandchildren, Brandy, Nicholas (wife, LeAnne), Ashley, and Shannon; his great-grandchildren, Sophia and Samantha; his brothers, Jay Pierce and Clyde Pierce; and his sisters, Thelma Cockrill and Louise Rowland; and

WHEREAS, Jimmie Lee Pierce will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a good man who never met a stranger and always had a joke to tell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Jimmie Lee Pierce; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jimmie Lee Pierce as an expression of our sympathy.