SR1682 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1682 LRB100 21815 ALS 39543 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of R-Lou Barker of Springfield, who passed away on April 21, 2018; and

WHEREAS, R-Lou Barker was born in McPherson, Kansas to John Clifford and Hazel Dell Washburn Porter on December 18, 1933; she attended schools in Centralia, Missouri and Glenarm, Illinois; she graduated from Ball Township High School and attended the University of Illinois at Springfield; she married Morton Darrell Barker Jr. in Chicago on June 29, 1953; and

WHEREAS, R-Lou Barker was a community advocate; she was active at the board level of many organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Land of Lincoln Girl Scout Council, the Springfield Art Association, the Springfield Symphony Women's Board, the Vachel Lindsay Association, the Illinois State Museum Society, and the Illinois State Museum; her dedication to the preservation of historic sites was demonstrated by her long-term service on the Springfield Historic Sites Commission and the Dana-Thomas House Foundation; she also served as Chairman of the Illinois Center for the Book and the Illinois Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, R-Lou Barker was an avid traveler; she visited both the North and South Poles and every continent; she believed there was "always another adventure to be experienced"; and

WHEREAS, R-Lou Barker was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Morton; her son, Morton Darrell Barker III; and her sister, Ruth Porter Shepherd; and

WHEREAS, R-Lou Barker is survived by her sons, Robert (Anne), Jess (Barbara), John, and Paul; her seven grandchildren, her three great-grandchildren; her sister, Martha (Bob) Fielding; and her three nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of R-Lou Barker 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 R-Lou Barker as an expression of our deepest sympathy.