SR0194 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Earl Patterson "Pat" Pitts Jr., who passed away on March 8, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Earl Pitts Jr. was born on December 15, 1951 in Waukegan; his parents were Earl Pitts and Merrol Rockingham Pitts; he married his junior high school sweetheart, Rhonda Evans, on March 10, 1973; and

WHEREAS, Earl Pitts Jr. accepted Christ at an early age at First Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Cole; in his later years, he re-dedicated his life to Christ and became a member of Mount Sinai Institutional Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Gerald Wilcoxon; and

WHEREAS, Earl Pitts Jr. was a lifelong resident of North Chicago; he attended elementary, junior high, and high school in North Chicago; after graduation, he was drafted in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge; and

WHEREAS, Earl Pitts Jr. enjoyed drawing, working on cars, racing cars, the outdoors, going on camping trips, and spending time with his family; and

WHEREAS, Earl Pitts Jr. was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Ryan Pitts; his brothers, Sam Kneeland, Hornsby Kneeland, and George (GT) Kneeland; and his brothers-in-law, Larry Williams and Mitchell Williams; and

WHEREAS, Earl Pitts Jr. is survived by his devoted wife of 36 years, Rhonda Evans Pitts; his sons, Rodney (Crystal) Pitts and Marvin Johnson; his siblings, Shelley Kneeland, Dorothy Lundy, Wilerma (Lola) Kneeland, Naydean (Willard) Fields, and Odie Kneeland; his grandchildren, Latrell Reed, Alize' Nance, Christopher, Kennedy, and Chase Pitts, Jeremiah Duty, Daquan Wilson, Aryia Pitts, Danaria Lewis, DeOmber Pitts, Amiyah Pitts, and Brittany Edwards; his father in-law, Aaron Evans; his mother in-law, Mary Evans; his brothers-in-law, Donald Evans, James (Cenie) Evans, Mark Evans, and David Logan; his sisters-in-law, Haneefah (Eunice) Logan, Linda Williams, and Valerie Williams; and his many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Earl Patterson "Pat" Pitts Jr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Earl Pitts Jr. as an expression of our sympathy.