SR0677 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0677 LRB097 20864 KXB 67612 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Sue Ellen (Manis) Cox of Benton, who passed away on March 8, 2012; and

WHEREAS, She was born the fifth child of Archie and Corda (Tweety) Manis on October 23, 1935; upon her mother's passing, she lived with her Uncle James "Smokey" and Aunt Ethel Hill of West Frankfort; she attended school at Edwards Grade School and graduated from FCHS in 1953; and

WHEREAS, After graduation, she went to live with her sister in Anderson, Indiana; she met and married George Hoffman, and together they had 3 children; she later moved home to West Frankfort and, in 1965, married attorney Lloyd Donald Cox in Benton; and

WHEREAS, She was as a receptionist for Dr. Richard Simpson; she later left to begin a job at The Daily American Newspaper in West Frankfort, where she was the Lifestyle Editor; she began a popular weekly column, "Week in Week Out" that depicted her humorous and insightful look into the life of a "real" single mother; she retired in the late 1990s from the newspaper and began working part-time as a secretary at Westminister Presbyterian Church in Benton, where she was also the organist and a member; and

WHEREAS, She enjoyed golf, reading (which was her passion), working with her sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, and playing the piano and organ; she adored being outside, working in her flowers and playing with her grandchildren; she also loved all St. Louis sports, high school and college basketball; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Arletta Sullivan; her brothers, Jack and George Manis; and her husband, Lloyd D. Cox; and

WHEREAS, Sue Ellen Cox is survived by her children, Jennifer Peebles and husband, Keil, Michael Hoffman and wife, Anita, Beth Ann Hoffman, and Justus Cox; her special friend, Judy; her stepsons, Courtney Cox and wife, Leslie and Kevin Cox and the late Caryl Cox; her grandchildren, Chesney Baltrusis and husband, Bart, Tyler Peebles and wife, Rachel, Grayson Peebles, Maria, Christian, and Nicholas Hoffman, Ben Cox and wife, Carrie, Nathaniel Cox, Eli Cox and wife, Lindsay, and Tim Cox; her great-grandchildren, Kiley, Korinn, and Korben Cox, and Jilianne and Crosby Cox; her sister and best friend, Shirley White; her brother, Charles Manis and wife, Mary; her sisters-in-law, Marilyn Glenn and Donna Manis; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Sue Ellen Cox; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Sue Ellen Cox as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.