SR0648 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0648 LRB103 35628 MST 65702 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ruth K. Gordon, who passed away on November 23, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was born in Momence to Frank and Rose Karlock on April 23, 1930; she graduated from Crescent City High School and worked briefly at a hotel in Chicago; she then decided to start nurses' training at the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Champaign; she married Maurice A. Gordon II at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Rantoul on January 2, 1954; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon's husband was drafted into the U.S. Army, and they started raising their family abroad; after her husband was honorably discharged, they returned to the family farm in Rantoul, where they lived most of their married life; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was a devoted wife and mother and worked part-time as a nurse when her four children were young; she was a creative person, taking millinery classes to make hats and woodworking classes to build furniture; she also designed the ranch-style house that she and her husband built on the home farm in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was an active member of St. Malachy Catholic Church in Rantoul, volunteering at both the parish and diocesan level; she became passionate about the pro-life movement in the early 70s and was very involved with Champaign County Right-to-Life and Birthright; she became involved with the Republican Party and its pro-life platform; she became the vice chairman of the Champaign County Republicans and worked on numerous campaigns for candidates, including Tim Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Dole; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon and her husband became snowbirds in retirement; they traveled to their condo in Mesa, Arizona and, over time, they developed many wonderful friendships at the Fountain of the Sun; she became a landlady after she purchased and rented two additional condos in the complex; she also enjoyed taking trips, especially cruises, to many destinations and taking time to be with her grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice; her baby sister, Irene; her brother, Frank; and his wife, Jean; and

WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon is survived by her children and their spouses, Bernard (Vickie) Gordon, Maurice (Dianna) Gordon, Susan (Bruce) Kloth, and Stephen (Rebecca) Gordon; her grandchildren and their spouses, Brian (Dee) Gordon, Chris (Samantha) Gordon, Andrea (Steve) Martorana, Michael (Victoria) Gordon, Kate Gordon, Thomas (Mary) Gordon, Daniel (Freya) Gordon, Mary T. Gordon, Kevin (Enxhi) Gordon, Joshua (Laura) Kloth, Jason (Ronni) Kloth, Krista (Kirk) Vissat, Kacie (Dallas) Osterbur, and Devon (Chet) Little; and her great-grandchildren, Zabrina Gordon, Sadie Gordon, Jack Martorana, Caroline Martorana, Anne Martorana, Nicholas Gordon, Iris Gordon, Phoebe Gordon, Zoe Gordon, J.D. Kloth, James Kloth, Josie Kloth, Henry Kloth, Coretta Kloth, Thaddeus Kloth, Izabella Vissat, Gianna Vissat, Emma Osterbur, Kinsley Osterbur, Brynleigh Little, Jameson Gordon, and Faustina Gordon; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ruth K. Gordon 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 Ruth Gordon as an expression of our deepest sympathy.