HR0626 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0626 LRB098 14477 MST 49197 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Donna Mae (nee Smith) Watson, who passed away on August 25, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson was born in East Saint Louis on May 5, 1937 to Wiley E. and Ethel (nee Rigney) Smith, Jr.; she graduated from Dupo Community High School on May 27, 1955; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson enlisted in the United States Army on April 25, 1957 and completed her basic military training at Fort McCellan, Alabama on July 3, 1957; she qualified in the Teletype Operation Course at the U.S. Army Southeastern Signal School in Fort Gordon, Georgia on August 30, 1957; she received the Good Conduct Medal during her service and was a member of the Women's Army Corps until her honorable discharge on April 24, 1959, achieving the rank of Specialist 4; she was proud that she served her country, and being a veteran became especially important to her in her later years; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson married George E. Watson at the First Baptist Church in Wood River on August 26, 1960; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson was employed as a Mental Health Technician IV at the Alton Mental Health Center, retiring in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson believed in the importance of education, graduating from Lewis and Clark Community College in 1973 with an Associate of Arts Degree, graduating with honors; she had an inherent love of politics and often shared her earliest memories of listening to both the Democratic and Republican conventions on the radio as a small child; her interest in politics continued into adulthood as she served as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman in the early 1970s; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson's most cherished memories were of helping her mother raise her younger siblings, Sarah "Cindy" and Elsa, and then when she became a mother, raising her own children; she spent many summers at Van Preter Park in East Alton, watching her daughters and sons play softball and baseball; she felt her greatest achievements were her children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; her maternal grandparents, Edward and Anna Rigney; and her paternal grandparents, Wiley E. and Elsa M. Smith; and

WHEREAS, Donna Watson is survived by her daughters, Stacia (Leonard) Woods and Donna (Steven) Pantone; her sons, Todd (Erin) Watson and Maxx (fiancee Jeanette Kassay) Watson; her grandchildren, Rigney Sanders, Matthew Sanders, Donna "Toni" Pantone, Megan Watson, Zackary Watson, Braydon Hensley, Jadyn Watson, Emily Watson, Parker Watson, Reily Kassay, and Christian Kassay; her sisters, Sarah "Cindy" (Daniel) Robien and Elsa (James) Lewis; and her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donna Mae Watson and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Donna Watson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.