SR0128 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0128 LRB099 10609 MST 30838 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Emily Beggs Esarey of White Hall, who passed away on January 14, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Emily Esarey was born in Oak Park on July 24, 1933 to Charles Norman and Elizabeth Loe Corsa Beggs; she graduated from Oak Park High School in 1951 and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1955 with a bachelor's degree in animal science; she earned the distinction as the first female graduate of the College of Agriculture; she was a proud member of the Sigma Kappa sorority and a supporter of Chief Illiniwek; she married James Gibson Esarey on June 26, 1955 in Oak Park; and

WHEREAS, In 1959, Emily Esarey and her husband settled in Greene County, south of White Hall, and began managing Gregory Farm, a farm that had been in her family since 1821; and

WHEREAS, Emily Esarey was involved with many community organizations, including positions as a 4-H club leader, church choir member, softball coach, honorary Future Farmers of America member, art teacher, and avid horse enthusiast for Percheron horses, Quarter horses (AQHA), and Morgans; she was also a horse handler at Beverly Farms; she was affectionately know as "Mrs. E"; and

WHEREAS, Emily Esarey was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents; and her brother, Bill Beggs; and

WHEREAS, Emily Esarey is survived by 2 daughters, Le (Butch) Esarey Perry and Laura Jane (Drew) Dukett; her 2 sons, Jonathon Esarey and Justus (Toni) Esarey; her sister, Sarah Coad; her brother, Gregory Beggs; her 5 grandchildren, Bethany Dukett, Joshua Dukett, Christopher Dukett (Sonya), Greg Finn, and Zach Finn; her 3 great-grandchildren, Ashley Wells, Christian Wells, and Haley Westermayer; and her great-great-grandchild, Isabella Marie Wells; she also hosted 4 exchange students including Hereath (Sri Lanka), Shinji Kondo (Japan), Evangeline Karahalios Guerland (Xavier-France), and Nina Suvanto-Collan (Finland); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Emily Beggs Esarey, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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