SR0644 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0644 LRB099 12715 MST 36489 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Helen Jean Sloan McClain of Woodstock, who passed away on May 16, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Helen McClain was born in Spearfish, South Dakota on August 28, 1926 to Harold Dewitt and Pamelia Arbuckle Sloan; she was raised on the homestead ranch her father started 40 miles northwest of Belle Fourche, South Dakota that included the corner stone of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana; she was valedictorian of her high school class and graduated from the University of Nebraska, where she studied chemistry and bacteriology; she married Arthur "Art" Wayne McClain in Lincoln, Nebraska on November 26, 1947; and

WHEREAS, After graduation in 1948, Helen McClain moved to Chicago; she worked in the laboratories at DuPont and Loyola Medical School; she stopped working in 1949 to raise her family; she and her family moved to Woodstock in 1957; in 1975, she returned to work at the McClain Corporation where she held the position of Business Manager (aka "Supreme Commander"), retiring in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Helen McClain loved golf and won several women's championships at the Woodstock Country Club, where she and Art were members for over 50 years; she was also a member of several Bridge clubs, playing until recently; her travels included Europe, Scotland, Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and nearly every state; she was a member of several book clubs and was a founding member of the first women's investment club in Woodstock, at a time when such things were not common; she was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Woodstock for over 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Helen McClain was preceded in death by her husband, Art; her parents; and her siblings, Harold, Jr., George, and infant, Rose Marie; and

WHEREAS, Helen McClain is survived by her 3 children, Kelly (Peggy) McClain, Margaret McClain, and Scott (Renee) McClain; her grandchildren, Tony (Tammi) Halda, Christy (Steve) Sturm, Andrew (Crystal) McClain, Rhienna (Edward) Trevino, Conner McClain, and Abbey McClain; her great-grandchildren, Joseph, Jade, Maggie, Steven, Henry, William, Ella, Chelsea, Elyse, and Emmit; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Helen Jean Sloan McClain, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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