SR2185 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2185 LRB100 24234 MST 43465 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dolores Moore Harlow "Dodie" Hirst of Bloomington, who passed away on October 25, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Hirst was born in Wichita, Kansas to Roger Moore and Sudie Belle Stephens Harlow on May 26, 1930; she and her mother moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana for a brief time before returning to Wichita in 1940; she graduated from high school a year early and began taking courses at Wichita's Friends University in voice, speech, and dramatics; in high school and college, she often took the lead role in musicals; she married George William Hirst, and they moved to Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Hirst and her family moved to Moline in 1950 and East Peoria in 1961; while in East Peoria, she was active in bridge groups, the Peoria Art Guild, and the Peoria Players; she began taking courses toward a master's degree in education at Bradley University in Peoria; in 1964, after a brief teaching stint in Peoria public schools, she began teaching in the East Peoria school system; she taught kindergarten at Lincoln and D.D. Shute elementary schools, then junior high school at East Peoria Central Junior High; she commuted to East Peoria for several years after the family moved to Wyoming, Illinois in 1971; and

WHEREAS, Upon retiring, Dolores Hirst went into business in Wyoming as a florist; in 2010, she moved to Arizona with her husband to be near their daughter, Lisa; after his passing, she moved back to Wyoming to be near her friends and lived there until 2015 when she moved to Bloomington; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Hirst took many roles in her church as a musician and Sunday school teacher; she was always interested in the arts, supported social justice issues, and volunteered at the Resource House in Wyoming; in 2016, she won the Advocate of the Year Award from the LIFE Center for Independent Living in McLean County for her work with people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Hirst loved to play bridge and was a fanatical cryptoquote and crossword puzzler; she had a marvelous coloratura voice, which she shared with the churches and elsewhere on special occasions; most memorable was her rendition of O Holy Night, which she sang sometimes as a duet with her sister-in-law, Eva Hirst, in many of the Christmas celebrations; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Hirst was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rev. George Hirst; and her sister-in-law, Eva Hirst; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Hirst is survived by her children, Stephen (Kristin), Kris (Ed) Nellis, Lisa (Dan) Roger, and David (Marcia); her brother-in-law, Allen; her grandchildren, Amy, Matthew, Kate, Aaron, Mason, and Rachel; her great-grandchildren, Augustine, Georgia, June, and Nora; dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews; and numerous friends, former students, and colleagues from her teaching days; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dolores Moore Harlow "Dodie" Hirst 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 Dolores Hirst as an expression of our deepest sympathy.