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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Joe Layne Whitley, who passed away on
4January 23, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Whitley was born in Red Boiling Springs,
6Tennessee to Orel and Bessie (Compton) Whitley on November 23,
71930; he graduated from Red Boiling Springs High School in
81947; he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where
9he was the youngest master sergeant in the Far East,
10participated in three major operations, and received the
11Purple Heart; he married Patricia "Pat" on February 23, 1953,
12and he welcomed Pat's three children, Kathy, Danny, and Carla
13into his heart; together, they had a son, Terry; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Joe Whitley, for a time, worked at IH Farmall in
15Rock Island in the evenings and as a rural postal carrier in
16the daytime; he moved his family to a 54-acre horse ranch,
17called the Flying W, located east of Andalusia in 1964; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Joe Whitley belonged to several organizations,
19including the Purple Heart Club, the Rock Island V.F.W. Post
201303, the Reynolds American Legion Post 1166, the Andalusia
21Township Board of Trustees, the Rural Letter Carriers, and the
22National Association of Letter Carriers, where he served as a

 

 

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1board member; he was a founding member and an officer of the
2Blackhawk Rodeo Association, where he served as a barrel clown
3during the bull riding competition; he was also a member of the
4German Shepherd Dog Club of the Quad Cities and raised German
5Shepherds; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joe Whitley was known as outgoing, gregarious,
7and someone able to strike up a conversation wherever he went;
8he enjoyed playing golf, riding his motorcycle, spending time
9at Jumer's Casino, and traveling with Pat and their friends;
10he also enjoyed flat track motorcycle racing, where he
11achieved national ranking as an amateur; he kept a large
12garden and supplied neighbors and relatives with sweet corn,
13tomatoes, peppers, and other goodies; he kept active at home
14and mowed several acres every week; he participated in an
15honor flight to Washington, D.C.; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Joe Whitley was preceded in death by his parents;
17his brother, Darrell; and his wife, Patricia; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Joe Layne Whitley is survived by his children,
19Kathy (John) Cervantes, Daniel (JoAnne) Whitley, Carla (Jack)
20Martens, and Terry Whitley; his brother, Billy (Carolyn)
21Whitley; his 12 grandchildren; and his many
22great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; therefore,
23be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Joe Layne Whitley and extend our sincere condolences to his
4family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Joe Whitley as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.