SR0160 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0160 LRB097 11403 KXB 53755 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Denene V. "Mazoo" Wilmeth of Springfield, who passed away on March 29, 2011; and

WHEREAS, She was born February 25, 1939 in Springfield, the daughter of Dennis and Marvene (Thompson) Barrick; she married James Stevenson Wilmeth on January 25, 1957 in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, For 29 years, beginning in 1981, she worked for the Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, serving the last 15 years as Executive Director; she was a member of Illinois State Board of Education, a former member of the Decatur District #61 School Board, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Decatur; and

WHEREAS, During her time with the Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau she promoted the Farm Progress Show and the 2008 Illinois Republican Convention; she was considered a cheerleader for the City of Decatur, working to make the city a destination for visitors and tourists; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her husband; and

WHEREAS, Denene Wilmeth is survived by her children, Tami Oppedahl and her husband Tony, James Wilmeth and his wife Vickie, and Mari Handy and her husband Kevin; her grandchildren, A.J. Musser and Sarah Musser and Peyton and Lydia Handy; her sister, Julie Baliva and her husband Dom; and her nephews, Nathan Baliva and Zachary Baliva; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Denene Wilmeth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Denene Wilmeth as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.