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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | ||||||
| 3 | to learn of the death of Jeffrey Ray "Jeff" Stephens of | ||||||
| 4 | Jacksonville, who passed away on August 14, 2021; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Jeff Stephens was born to Dr. Roger "Doc" and | ||||||
| 6 | Betty Stephens on April 3, 1962; he married Sheila Ethell on | ||||||
| 7 | June 23, 1984; he graduated from Eureka College in 1984; he | ||||||
| 8 | later received his master's degree in Education from the | ||||||
| 9 | University of Illinois in Springfield; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Jeff Stephens served students in the Bluffs, | ||||||
| 11 | Westmer, and Triopia School Districts, where he taught a | ||||||
| 12 | variety of subjects; over the years, he coached track, | ||||||
| 13 | football, boys basketball, girls basketball, and softball; he | ||||||
| 14 | also served as athletic director to the Triopia School | ||||||
| 15 | District, where he greatly enjoyed organizing and hosting many | ||||||
| 16 | athletic events and was known for his meticulous care of | ||||||
| 17 | teams, coaches, and officials; and
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| 18 | WHEREAS, Jeff Stephens served as superintendent for the | ||||||
| 19 | Regional Office of Education #46; he concluded his career in | ||||||
| 20 | education as assistant superintendent from ROE #1 in June | ||||||
| 21 | 2018; he took delight in supporting the area superintendents | ||||||
| 22 | in whatever way he could; following retirement, he continued | ||||||
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| 1 | his work for ROE #1 in the Jacksonville office; and
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Jeff Stephens was deeply committed to his faith; | ||||||
| 3 | he was affectionately known as "Datdaw" to his grandchildren; | ||||||
| 4 | he was a kind soul and a generous man with a quiet demeanor who | ||||||
| 5 | worked behind the scenes to help his family, friends, and many | ||||||
| 6 | others; he always had an encouraging word and a helping hand; | ||||||
| 7 | and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, Jeff Stephens was preceded in death by his | ||||||
| 9 | father; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Jeff Stephens is survived by his wife of 37 | ||||||
| 11 | years, Sheila; his son, Nick (Hannah) Stephens; his daughter, | ||||||
| 12 | Hannah (Eric) Martin; his mother, Betty Stephens; his sister, | ||||||
| 13 | Rhonda (Rich) Dormire; his brother, Mark (Sarah) Stephens; his | ||||||
| 14 | grandchildren, Emmons and soon-to-arrive Stephens and Lyla, | ||||||
| 15 | Bennett, and Amelia Ray Martin; his nieces and nephew, Tonya | ||||||
| 16 | McLaughlin, Jacob Brown, and Sophie Stephens; and his many | ||||||
| 17 | other very special nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
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| 18 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL | ||||||
| 19 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
| 20 | Jeffrey Ray "Jeff" Stephens and extend our sincere condolences | ||||||
| 21 | to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be | ||||||
| 22 | it further
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| 1 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 2 | presented to the family of Jeff Stephens as an expression of | ||||||
| 3 | our deepest sympathy.
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