SR0462 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0462 LRB100 12273 MAS 25347 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of JoAnn Walker Wyatt of Chrisman, who passed away on March 30, 2017; and

WHEREAS, JoAnn Wyatt was born in Danville to Vern and Cecile Froman Walker on May 9, 1931; she married Earl Wyatt at the Chrisman United Methodist Church on September 16, 1951; and

WHEREAS, JoAnn Wyatt dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren; she was a member of several clubs, including Priscilla Club, Household Science, United Methodist Women, and Buzzing Bees; she enjoyed gardening and home projects; she dearly loved her family; and

WHEREAS, JoAnn Wyatt showed her affection to those around her with food and in her earlier farming days she would bring meals to her husband, son, and the hired hands working in the fields; she would fill the plates and bowls on noontime breaks with beef roast or fried chicken with all the fixings and finish them with pies, cakes, cookies, and thermoses of hot coffee; her affection was also shared at the many celebrations and gatherings with family and friends and she was quick to learn someone's favorite dish; she was famous for her coffee cake, homemade noodles, or her famous orange jello with mandarin oranges, and she always made sure there was plenty left over to take home; she would often mail these favorite treats to her grandchildren all over the country and no one would leave her house hungry; and

WHEREAS, JoAnn Wyatt will be remembered as a true matriarch; she was fiercely independent, strong-willed, and devoted her life to teaching the importance of family; she loved the memories of the farm home that she and Earl built and deeply treasured all the family gatherings; she was most proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and will be greatly missed by all; and

WHEREAS, JoAnn Wyatt was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; and

WHEREAS, JoAnn Wyatt is survived by her children, Jan (Tim) Fonner, Judy (Bill) Beard, and Philip (Lora) Wyatt; her grandchildren, Aaron (Melody) Fonner, Alissa (Jesse) Nixon, Wyatt Beard, Meredith Beard, and Hannah and Hollie Wyatt; and five great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of JoAnn Walker Wyatt, 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 JoAnn Wyatt as an expression of our deepest sympathy.