HR1087 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1087 LRB098 21226 MST 59195 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Clifton Lyme Skelcher of Marion, who passed away on May 2, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Clifton Skelcher was born in Cambria on November 26, 1922 to Jack and Vernell (nee Campbell) Skelcher; he married Berdella Simmons on December 29, 1945 in Murphysboro; and

WHEREAS, Clifton Skelcher served in the United States Navy during World War II; he earned 5 bronze stars, his fifth being for the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, which became a Silver Battle Star since it was in the first wave landing at Omaha Beach; before Normandy, he participated in every major invasion of Europe - North Africa, Sicily, 2 invasions of Italy, and southern France; later, in the Pacific Theatre of the War, he was in the invasion of the Philippines, liberating the islands from the Japanese occupation, and then he was in the invasion of Okinawa; he next prepared for the invasion of Japan, before the atomic bombs were dropped, ending the war with Japan in August of 1945; and

WHEREAS, Clifton Skelcher retired as the President of Laborer's International Union of North American Local 380 and was a member of Lantana Southern Baptist Church of Carbondale and VFW Post 2035 of Brownsville, Texas; and

WHEREAS, Clifton Skelcher was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Cline Skelcher; and sister, Annabelle Morris; and

WHEREAS, Clifton Skelcher is survived by his wife, Berdella Skelcher; 2 sons, Larry Skelcher and wife, Barbara, and Bradley Skelcher and wife, Dinah Lynn DeMoss; 2 grandsons, Jack Skelcher and wife, Lana, and Jason Skelcher; 4 great-grandchildren, Caleb Skelcher, Colton Skelcher, Casey Skelcher, and Danielle Marie Skelcher; and 3 nephews, Clifton Skelcher and wife, Carol, Michael Skelcher and wife, Sharon, and Jack Morris and wife, Kathy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Clifton Lyme Skelcher, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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