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| 1 | HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Christopher Allan "Chris" James, age 48, of | ||||||
| 3 | Savanna, died tragically in an accident on May 23, 2023; and | ||||||
| 4 | WHEREAS, Chris James was born to Derek "Rick" James and | ||||||
| 5 | Patricia Colehour on March 1, 1975; he grew up in Mt. Carroll | ||||||
| 6 | and graduated from Mt. Carroll High School in 1993; he married | ||||||
| 7 | Jamie Schnitzler, and together they had two sons; he married | ||||||
| 8 | Samantha Sipe on July 4, 2016; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, Chris James worked for Guffey Motors (now JC | ||||||
| 10 | Carey Motors) as a mechanic; he loved working on cars, a | ||||||
| 11 | passion he kept throughout his life; he then worked for Elkay | ||||||
| 12 | for approximately a decade, before starting a career with the | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois Department of Corrections, first as a correctional | ||||||
| 14 | officer, then vehicle maintenance, and then as a groundsman; | ||||||
| 15 | and | ||||||
| 16 | WHEREAS, Chris James served as a councilman and treasurer | ||||||
| 17 | for AFSCME; he also served on the Savanna City Council; and | ||||||
| 18 | WHEREAS, Chris James kept busy with all sorts of projects | ||||||
| 19 | and endeavors centered around those he loved; he enjoyed | ||||||
| 20 | vacationing in Hawaii with family and taking spur-of-the | ||||||
| 21 | moment road trips; he was always available for people who | ||||||
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| 1 | needed him; his family was very important to him, and he kept | ||||||
| 2 | many lifelong friendships; he was a big supporter of MC | ||||||
| 3 | Motocross and the Rhythm Section Amphitheater; and | ||||||
| 4 | WHEREAS, Chris James was preceded in death by his | ||||||
| 5 | grandparents, Dick and Diane James, and his father-in-law, | ||||||
| 6 | Michael Sipe; and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Chris James was | ||||||
| 8 | survived by his wife, Sam; his sons, Hunter and Chase (Abbie) | ||||||
| 9 | James; his stepchildren, Kharissa and Austin Anderson; his | ||||||
| 10 | grandchildren, Emmett Dunk and Carter James; his parents, Jeff | ||||||
| 11 | and Patty Janssen and Rick James; his sister, Beth (Dave) | ||||||
| 12 | Jones; his nephews, Cody Johnson, David Jones III, and Charlie | ||||||
| 13 | Jones; his honorary brother, Reid B. Law; his mother-in-law, | ||||||
| 14 | Jodie Sipe; his "work wife", Denise Chandler; and many other | ||||||
| 15 | beloved family members and friends; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 16 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 17 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | ||||||
| 18 | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 84 | ||||||
| 19 | from 1030 Viaduct Road (south point) to U.S. 52 (intersection | ||||||
| 20 | of Chicago Avenue and Viaduct Road) in Savanna as the "Chris | ||||||
| 21 | James Memorial Highway"; and be it further | ||||||
| 22 | RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation | ||||||
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| 1 | is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with | ||||||
| 2 | State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs | ||||||
| 3 | giving notice of the name "Chris James Memorial Highway"; and | ||||||
| 4 | be it further | ||||||
| 5 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 6 | presented to the family of Chris James, the Mayor of Savanna, | ||||||
| 7 | and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation. | ||||||