SR0224 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0224 LRB094 12448 CSA 46858 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Mary Ellen Orr of Perry passed away on May 14, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Orr was born August 7, 1920, in Chambersburg, the daughter of the late Clarence Thomas and Miriam Dennis Browning; and

WHEREAS, She married Ralph J. Orr on August 7, 1938, in Chambersburg; and

WHEREAS, She was a 1938 graduate of Chambersburg High School in Chambersburg; and

WHEREAS, She farmed alongside her husband northwest of Perry for many years; she also aided her husband in the running of their farm machinery business in Perry; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Orr, along with her husband and father-in-law, Ralph Orr, were former owners of land which became the University of Illinois Orr Research Center; she was currently serving in her 20th consecutive year as Trustee of John Wood Community College, as well as serving several years on the John Wood Ag Committee; she also served on the board of directors of the Farmer's & Traders State Bank in Meredosia; and

WHEREAS, She was an active elder in the Perry Presbyterian Church and was an elder in the Fairmount Presbyterian Church until it closed; she was commissioner to the Presbytery of Great Rivers and also taught the adult class of the Presbyterian Sunday School; and

WHEREAS, She was a member of the Pittsfield O.E.S., Pike County Country Couples, Fairmount Home Extension, Women's Club of Pike County, and the Ladies Guild of the Perry Presbyterian Church; she was very active in the Perry community and was the 1998 Perry Pioneer Day Honored Citizen; and

WHEREAS, She traveled extensively worldwide and was an avid reader; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter, Kay Ellen Orr, and her great-granddaughter, Ashley Fencik; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Mary Ellen Orr is felt by all who knew and loved her, especially her daughter, Patricia Gail Emerson and husband Richard; her sons, David Jeffrey Orr and wife Janet, John Michael Orr and wife Kay, and Roger Alan Orr and wife Kathi; her special granddaughter, Cindy Orr Moore and husband Douglas; her 10 additional grandchildren; her 4 step-grandchildren; her 13 great-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren; her 3 great-great grandchildren; her special friend and companion, Elmer Bradbury; her sister, Sarah Harriet Brooks; her brothers, Clarence John Browning and wife Shirley and David Harvey Browning; and her several nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Mary Ellen Orr and extend our sincerest condolences to her family, friends, and community; and be it further

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