SR1007 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1007 LRB103 40772 LAW 73608 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Melody Lynn (Jackson) Turner of Oak Park, who passed away on May 2, 2023 at the age of 80; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner was born to Welles and Freida (Busch) Jackson in Austin, Texas, on August 3, 1942; she developed a love for music early in life, and her first instrument was the accordion, followed by the piano and violin; by age fifteen, she was also playing the organ in her first position at a church, with many others to follow; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner graduated from high school in Toledo, Ohio; she received a bachelor's degree in music from Indiana University; she later earned her master's degree from Union Theological Seminary; she began studying for a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign but ultimately decided to spend more time with her family and on her career, stepping away from the program; and

WHEREAS, During her 20-year tenure at First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Melody Turner met her future husband, Dale R. Turner; together, they had two daughters, Alison and Justine; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner worked at other religious institutions, including First Methodist and a synagogue, learning Hebrew at the latter to become more involved in services; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner founded the Springfield Oratorio Choir in 1971, which still exists today as the Springfield Choral Society; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner also discovered a passion for creating stained-glass windows while in Springfield; at Melotte Morse Studio, she worked on the State Capitol Building's dome restoration, styling the center seal herself; she also spent a considerable amount of time in a personal studio, which was built by her husband, where she created windows for their home and family; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner moved her family and her stained-glass studio to Oak Park in 1989, where she made her mark on local architecture through an extensive restoration of windows in a Frank Lloyd Wright home; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner took her performing arts talents to Chicago, becoming the music director and organist at Church of Our Savior in the Lincoln Park neighborhood; she retired after more than 20 years of service in 2012; before long, she came out of retirement to accept the position of interim organist and music director at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Riverside, serving in that role until June 2022; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner taught piano and violin to children using the Suzuki method at a second in-home studio; she also accompanied music students of Michael Hining and performed in the West Suburban Symphony and the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner donated many of her stained-glass creations after she and her husband downsized from their home into an apartment; one of her final acts of service was teaching at the Oak Park Senior Citizens Center; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner enjoyed comedy, puzzles, reading, and her faith; her lifelong passions were her children and teaching music; and

WHEREAS, Melody Turner was preceded in death by her parents and her husband; and

WHEREAS, At the time of her passing, Melody Turner was survived by her daughters, Alison Duray (Mark) and Justine Turner Smith (Mike); her grandchildren, Theodore Duray and Alden K. Smith; her siblings, Win Jackson, Tim Jackson, Robin Sytnik, and Chris Jackson; and her nieces and nephews; 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 Melody Lynn (Jackson) Turner 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 Melody Turner as an expression of our deepest sympathy.