SR1031 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1031 LRB098 20686 GRL 57451 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James William Ayers of Spring Grove, who passed away on March 5, 2014; and

WHEREAS, James Ayers was born on December 31, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa; his parents were Lowell and Katherine Ayers; he married Margaret (Maggie) Bellingham in 1976; and

WHEREAS, While attending Waterloo East High School, James Ayers was employed as a writer at the Waterloo Courier and later at the Fort Dodge Messenger and Rochester Post Bulletin; in the late 1960s, he worked in public affairs with the Minnesota Republican Party before moving back to Rochester to work as an editorial writer at the Post Bulletin, where he lived with his family for 18 years until they moved to Johnsburg, where he worked as an independent insurance agent; and

WHEREAS, James Ayers was a member of All Saints Lutheran Church and the Johnsburg OldTimers Baseball Club; his love of sports was expressed through his officiating at recreational, youth, high school, and college baseball, softball, basketball, football and volleyball games, which continued up until his passing; he enjoyed attending local sporting events and University of Minnesota Golden Gopher games with his sons; he also enjoyed traveling with his family, jokes, playing board and card games with his family, and watching birds and wildlife from his back deck; and

WHEREAS, James Ayers is survived by his wife, Margaret; his sons, Nathan and Brandon (Giana); his siblings, Josephine (Phil), David (Bev), John (Cathie), and Joan (Diane); his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Carmen Bellingham; his other in-laws; and his many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and referee colleagues; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of James William Ayers; and be it further

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