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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Mary Ellen Harkrader of Peoria, who
4passed away on January 30, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader graduated from Pontiac High School
6and the St. Francis School of Nursing; she married Alan D.
7Harkrader Jr.; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader worked as a registered nurse in
9pediatrics at the St. Francis School of Nursing before raising
10her family in Peoria; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader became a passionate public
12servant, serving on the Tri-County Regional Planning
13Commission and the Peoria County Board; she served as the
14Peoria County Clerk for three terms and as an officer of the
15National Association of County Officials; she ran the Peoria
16office of the U.S. Census Bureau for the census count in 1980;
17she was a member of the League of Women Voters and a delegate
18to the Democratic National Convention in 1984; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader was an environmental advocate; she
20was a member of the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club and
21co-founder of Coenact, a recycling organization in the 1960s;

 

 

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1she was a reading volunteer at Thomas Jefferson Elementary
2School and a member of St. Philomena's Catholic Church; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader loved people and cultures, and she
4was interested in scientific research; alongside her husband,
5she traveled the world after their retirement, and they lived
6happily at the Christian Buehler Home in Peoria; she enjoyed
7telling stories about her travels and experiences in the world
8of politics; she will be remembered for her devotion to her
9family; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader was preceded in death by her
11parents, Lawrence and Marcella Wheeler, and her siblings,
12Margaret and Larry; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Mary Harkrader is survived by her husband of 66
14years, Alan D. Harkrader Jr.; her children, Alan Harkrader
15(Kate Marsland), Mark Harkrader (Jodi Murphy), and Leslye
16Fredrich (Rosca Toulouse); her grandson, Matthew Harkrader;
17and her brother, Donald Wheeler (Theresa); therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
20Mary Ellen Harkrader and extend our sincere condolences to her
21family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
22further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Mary Harkrader as an expression of
3our deepest sympathy.