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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Ray Spooner of Urbana, who passed away on
4August 8, 2016; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ray Spooner was diagnosed with Amyotrophic
6Lateral Sclerosis in December of 2014 and accepted his
7diagnosis with grace; on his three-item bucket list was a
8cross-country bicycle ride from San Diego to St. Augustine,
9Florida to raise funds for ALS awareness and research; on day
10five, an accident resulting in seven broken bones ended his
11original vision of the ride and the diminished line-up of
12riders continued with Ray and Rae as support; in Austin, he was
13outfitted with a recumbent trike and was able to fulfill his
14dream, finish the ride, and dip his wheel into the Atlantic
15Ocean, accompanied by his family and friends; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Ray Spooner spent his final months at home, being
17cared for by his wife, children, family, and friends; unable to
18speak, he communicated by one-thumb texting and through his
19eloquently written blog, rayslittleride.com; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Ray Spooner is survived by his wife, Rae; his
21children, Lisa (Corey) Curtiss, Manu, and Sophia; his grandson,
22Jack Curtiss; his mother, Jeanne Spooner; his sister, Lynn

 

 

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1Wallis and her family; his in-laws, Tauby Shimkin and Paul
2Weichsel; and many extended family members; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
5family and friends, mourn the passing of Ray Spooner; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Ray Spooner as an expression of our
9sympathy.