Full Text of SR0130 101st General Assembly
SR0130 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of Rev. Dr. W. Gehl Devore of Zion, who | 4 | | passed away on February 5, 2019; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Devore was born in Altamont to William Durell | 6 | | and Pearl Devore on December 4, 1916; he graduated from high | 7 | | school at the age of 15; he then spent eight years as a | 8 | | linotype operator; after being called to the ministry, he | 9 | | enrolled in McKendree College, now McKendree University; while | 10 | | he was a student, he was appointed by the District | 11 | | Superintendent to serve a four-point circuit, preaching at | 12 | | Sunday morning and evening services at four different churches | 13 | | every other week; after graduating from McKendree with honors, | 14 | | he enrolled at Garrett Theological Seminary; when he was 23, he | 15 | | married Doris Mery; and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Devore's first appointment was at a church in | 17 | | Westmont, where he served as pastor from 1944 until 1956; he | 18 | | then moved to Rockford and served as Senior Pastor of Grace | 19 | | Methodist Church from 1956 until 1961; from Rockford, he moved | 20 | | to Barrington and served the Barrington Methodist Church; in | 21 | | 1963, he moved to Waukegan and became the Senior Pastor of | 22 | | First United Methodist Church, where he remained until his | 23 | | retirement in 1980; after his retirement, he was honored with |
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| 1 | | the title of Pastor Emeritus and also worked part-time for Otar | 2 | | Printers in Waukegan; and
| 3 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Devore was active in many community and | 4 | | philanthropic organizations; for over 20 years, he served as | 5 | | Chaplain for the Waukegan City Council; he also served as Dean | 6 | | of a Methodist high school youth camp at Conference Point Camp | 7 | | in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; known as a great storyteller, he | 8 | | spent much time, both as a pastor and in retirement, visiting | 9 | | local hospitals, nursing homes, and shut-ins; he was a lifetime | 10 | | and avid fan of the New York Yankees; he enjoyed playing golf, | 11 | | baking pies, playing softball in church leagues, and exercising | 12 | | and swimming at the YMCA in Waukegan; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Devore was preceded in death by his parents | 14 | | and his brothers, Raymond and Linder; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Devore is survived by his wife of 78 years, | 16 | | Doris; his children, Bill (Jan) and Jan; and his grandchildren, | 17 | | Christopher Devore and Angela Devore; therefore, be it
| 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL | 19 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 20 | | Rev. Dr. W. Gehl Devore and extend our sincere condolences to | 21 | | his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it | 22 | | further
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 2 | | presented to the family of Dr. Devore as an expression of our | 3 | | deepest sympathy.
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