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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Mary
4Ellen Harkrader of Peoria, who passed away on January 30,2021;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader graduated from Pontiac High School
7and the St. Francis School of Nursing; she married Alan D.
8Harkrader Jr.; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader worked as a registered nurse in
10pediatrics at the St. Francis School of Nursing before raising
11her family in Peoria; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader became a passionate public
13servant, serving on the Tri-County Regional Planning
14Commission and the Peoria County Board; she served as the
15Peoria County Clerk for three terms and as an officer of the
16National Association of County Officials; she ran the Peoria
17office of the U.S. Census Bureau for the census count in 1980;
18she was a member of the League of Women Voters and a delegate
19to the Democratic National Convention in 1984; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader was an environmental advocate; she
21was a member of the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club and

 

 

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1co-founder of Coenact, a recycling organization in the 1960s;
2she was a reading volunteer at Thomas Jefferson Elementary
3School and a member of St. Philomena's Catholic Church; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader loved people and cultures, and she
5was interested in scientific research; alongside her husband,
6she traveled the world after their retirement, and they lived
7happily at the Christian Buehler Home in Peoria; she enjoyed
8telling stories about her travels and experiences in the world
9of politics; she will be remembered for her devotion to her
10family; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader was preceded in death by her
12parents, Lawrence and Marcella Wheeler, and her siblings,
13Margaret and Larry; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader is survived by her husband of 66
15years, Alan D. Harkrader Jr.; her children, Alan Harkrader
16(Kate Marsland), Mark Harkrader (Jodi Murphy), and Leslye
17Fredrich (Rosca Toulouse); her grandson, Matthew Harkrader;
18and her brother, Donald Wheeler (Theresa); therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we mourn the passing of Mary Ellen Harkrader and extend our
22sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew

 

 

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1and loved her; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Mary Harkrader as an expression of
4our deepest sympathy.