SR0172 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0172 LRB101 10965 ALS 56142 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Myra Jane Rodgers Shepard of Bloomington, who passed away on February 5, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Myra Rodgers was born in Normal to Harry Hosler and Ruth Jane Smith Rodgers on October 16, 1921; she graduated from Bloomington High School in 1938; she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1942; she was an honorary member of Phi Kappa Phi and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity; she married Trent Allen Shepard at the First M.E. Church, now Wesley United Methodist Church, on December 5, 1948; and

WHEREAS, Myra Rodgers served in the United States Navy's Women's Reserve, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, from 1943 until 1946; she attained the rank of Lieutenant JG WC, communications officer in the Chief of Naval Operations Office in Washington, D.C., where she encoded and decoded top secret messages; with her GI benefits, she received her private pilot's license after the war; she also worked part-time at her father's family's business, Rodgers Shoe Co., in downtown Bloomington; and

WHEREAS, Myra Rodgers was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bloomington; she served on many boards, including the Wesley United Methodist Church's Board of Trustees, the YWCA Board, and the Girl Scout Advisory Board; she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the McLean County Historical Society, the McLean County Art Association, the Wesleyan University Alumni Association's Presidents Club, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Board, and the Bloomington Country Club; she also supported the Red Cross Blood Mobile; she enjoyed swimming, walking, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends; she also played golf and tennis and bowled with the BCC ladies groups; and

WHEREAS, Myra Rodgers was preceded in death by her husband, Trent; and

WHEREAS, Myra Rodgers is survived by her children, Trent Allen Shepard Jr., Karen Jane (Jim) McNatt, Gregory Mark (Heather) Shepard, and Tracy Morgan (Susan Baller) Shepard; and her nine grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Myra Jane Rodgers Shepard 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 Myra Rodgers as an expression of our deepest sympathy.