SR0208 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0208 LRB102 17924 LAW 24568 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Hurley B. Sutton of East Moline, who passed away on March 27, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Hurley Sutton was born in Pleasant Hill to Louis and Narcie Sutton on July 30, 1925; he graduated from high school in 1943; shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army as a rifleman during World War II, where he served in the European Theater and survived the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest; as a result of his actions in World War II, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, and various other medals and accommodations; he graduated from Western Illinois University in 1950; he married Beatrice Grimsley shortly after; together, they had five children, Bruce, Denice, Gregory, Mark, and Daniel, before their marriage ended in 1960; he married Billie Carole Barber in 1962; together, they had two children, Steven and Michael; he raised his family in the Quad City area; and

WHEREAS, Hurley Sutton became involved with the Illinois Cemetery Association during the 1950s; alongside his business partner Harold Michel, he eventually purchased several cemeteries from Cheyenne, Wyoming to East Moline; he especially loved the Greenview Memorial Gardens in East Moline, where he excelled as general manager; he established himself as the predominate salesman in the pre-need funeral business by the 1970s; he earned a number of top state and national awards during his career; and

WHEREAS, Hurley Sutton purchased a small cabin at Lake Odessa in Wapello, Iowa in 1972, where he truly loved spending time on his pontoon boat, fishing, entertaining, and being the center of attention; he upgraded the cabin to a lake house by 1980, and it remains a special place the Sutton family enjoys to this day; and

WHEREAS, Hurley Sutton was known for being generous, loving, caring, wise, and a true servant leader; he was a humble, 6'4" gentle giant who touched many lives through his kindness and unconditional love; he was truly one of the greatest men from the Greatest Generation; he will never be forgotten; and

WHEREAS, Hurley Sutton was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Nancy (Grover) Hilgedick and Louise Thrasher; his brother, Errol Lynn Sutton; his son, Gregory Sutton; and his granddaughter, Rhonda Carlson; and

WHEREAS, Hurley Sutton is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carole (Billie Carole) Sutton; his daughter, Denice Murray; his sons, Bruce (Alicia) Sutton, Mark Sutton, Daniel (Nancy) Sutton, Steven (Michelle) Sutton, and Michael (Cindi) Sutton; his grandchildren, Nacole (John) Carlyle, Megan Carlson, Jeff (Edita) Carlson, Andrew Sutton, Lilli Sutton, Sara (Patrick) McGowan, Logan Sutton, Aden Sutton, and Connor Sutton; and his great-grandchild, Chloe Carlyle; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Hurley B. Sutton and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Hurley Sutton as an expression of our deepest sympathy.