SR1485 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1485 LRB099 20007 MST 44410 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Doris Arline Edwards of Macomb, who passed away on January 19, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Doris Edwards was born in Emmet Township to Philip and Anna (nee Doran) Lewis on August 11, 1919; she graduated from Western Academy in 1937 and Western Teachers College; she also held a master's degree from Western Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Doris Edwards started her teaching career at Lombard, a one-room school in northern McDonough County, where she taught for 3 years; she then moved to Muddy Lane, where she taught from 1942 to 1947, and where in addition to teaching multiple grades and multiple subjects, she was responsible for janitorial work, hauling water in from outside, and keeping the stove fired; she did this while completing her bachelor's degree in 1950; she also taught soldiers at Fort Sheridan and worked at Camp Ellis during World War II; she continued her studies while teaching full-time and obtained her master's degree in 1956; with the consolidation of country schools, she went to Pekin, where she taught for 4 years before moving to Beardstown for the 1951-52 academic year; she was the founder of the Beardstown Head Start program, coordinator of Chapter I and II programs, and served as Chapter I director; she spent many of her years teaching first grade but throughout her career taught every grade; she often taught and was a principal at the same time or was the principal over two schools simultaneously; she worked in 4 of the 5 Beardstown grade schools; she was known throughout the community for the wonderful Christmas programs she helped orchestrate and for teaching the children (and a few teachers) to square and ballroom dance; she was honored by the Illinois Board of Education in 2014 for holding the record for 73 years of service in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Doris Edwards was active in the Beardstown community as a member of St. Alexius Catholic Church and several service and professional organizations; she was a lector, eucharistic minister, and managed the CCD program at the church for many years; she founded and was a member of the Business & Professional Women organization; she was also a member of the Rotary Club and was a founding member of the Beardstown Ladies Investment Club; she helped in the writing and publication of the book series "Beardstown Ladies"; she spearheaded fundraising to refurbish the grand piano used in the high school auditorium; she was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, the Illinois Principal Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the National Education Association; while residing in Macomb, she was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, Doris Edwards traveled to McDonough County on a weekly basis to visit with family on Sunday afternoons; she was often found at ball games, watching her brother Ed or his sons coach; she also enjoyed watching her nieces and nephews play and being a Tiger booster; she was honored by Beardstown as the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Fall Festival Parade and the playground at Gard Elementary School is named in her honor; and

WHEREAS, Doris Edwards was preceded in death by her parents; her 3 brothers, Edward, John, and Bernard; and her 2 sisters, Helen Lewis, and Mary Williams; and

WHEREAS, Doris Edwards is survived by her sister, Joann (Lewis) Moore; her sister-in-law, Margaret (Hinman) Lewis; her 21 nieces and nephews; her 41 great-nieces and nephews; and her 43 great-great-nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Doris Arline Edwards, 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 Doris Edwards as an expression of our deepest sympathy.