SR0951 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0951 LRB102 27042 LAW 38361 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Bette R. Jackson of Woodson, who passed away on March 13, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson was born to Raymond E. and Elizabeth L. Bronson Johnson in Wausau, Wisconsin on February 15, 1935; she graduated from Appleton High School in Wisconsin in 1953; she married Lee Roy Jackson Jr. on August 18, 1956, and he preceded her in death on April 24, 2008; she graduated from MacMurray College in 1957; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson threw herself into being a Jacksonvillian after marriage; following her love of nature, she developed and directed the first Girl Scout overnight camping program for the area; she also served as president and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Jacksonville MacMurray Music Association; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson served on the Passavant Memorial Area Hospital's Board of Trustees for multiple terms; she promoted the hospital's blood donation program throughout Morgan and Scott counties; she also developed and promoted the first CPR training program for the hospital; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson followed her true passion in 1987, founding and becoming the director of Woodhaven Hospice, the first compassionate dying program for patients and families in the area; she served as director for 20 years until her retirement; during this time, she established support groups for both survivors of strokes and the families of stroke victims in Jacksonville; she also advocated for younger town members by starting a grief support group at Turner Junior High School; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson joined her husband's family church, First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, where she served as both an elder and a deacon for multiple terms; she was a long-standing and active member of Chapter El of the PEO, where she served in several different leadership positions for many years; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her brother, William R. Johnson; and

WHEREAS, Bette Jackson is survived by her daughters, Rae Ellen Hopkins-Hostetler (Randy) and Karen "KJ" Doyle (Kelly); her grandchildren, Becca R. Cannon, Sarah E. Hopkins (Brandon Doherty), and Laura B. Whittaker; her step-grandchildren, C. Doyle, Molly Doyle, and Jason Doyle; one great-granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and her sister-in-law, Carol (Gary) Watkins; 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 Bette R. Jackson 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 Bette Jackson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.