093_SR0078

                                     LRB093 11219 KEF 12299 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Earl Neely on
 4    February 16, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS, Mr. Neely was born in East St. Louis on February
 6    8, 1923 to Mr. Phelan and Mrs. Sarah Griggs Neely; and

 7        WHEREAS, Mr. Neely received his education from the Public
 8    School  System  in East Saint Louis, where he attended Dunbar
 9    Elementary School and  graduated  from  Lincoln  Senior  High
10    School in June 1941; he attended Southern Illinois University
11    at Carbondale and Prairieview College in Texas; and

12        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Neely was united in Holy Matrimony to Miss
13    Carol Stewart on November 27, 1952; and

14        WHEREAS, Mr. Neely  enjoyed  attending  church  with  his
15    family  at  Pilgrim  Temple  A.M.E.;  he  later joined Shiloh
16    A.M.E. Church under the pastorage of Reverend Fred Oliver; he
17    was appointed and served as a steward and  served  faithfully
18    under  the pastorage of L.B. Johnson until his health failed;
19    he also served as an usher on  Usher  Board  #2  for  several
20    years; and

21        WHEREAS, Mr. Neely was self-employed as a "Hatter" for 47
22    years;  the  first five years, he cleaned and blocked hats at
23    The Bronx Cleaners, where his brother Herbert taught him  the
24    basics of cleaning and blocking hats; and

25        WHEREAS,  Mr. Neely loved his family and tried to help in
26    any way he could; he loved life and was an avid lover of Jazz
27    music; his passing will be deeply felt  by  many,  especially
28    his  loving wife, Carol Neely; his grandson, Anthony (Trinas)
29    Neely; his three great-granddaughters, Ashley  Neely,  TaMyra
30    Neely,  and  Dominique  Neely;  his  two sisters-in-law, Mrs.
31    Beatrice Neely and Mrs. Elva Neely; his five nephews and  six
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11219 KEF 12299 r
 1    nieces;  his  devoted  neighbors,  Mr. and Mrs. Allen (Flora)
 2    McClinton  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pleas  Griffin;  his  several
 3    great-nephews and great-nieces; and many other relatives  and
 4    friends; and

 5        WHEREAS, Mr. Neely was preceded in death by his son, Leon
 6    Curtis Neely; his six brothers, Luther, Clifton, James, Leon,
 7    Herbert,  and  Ernest  Neely;  and his sister, Beatrice Neely
 8    Reed; therefore, be it

 9        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
10    ASSEMBLY  OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing
11    of Earl Neely along with all who  knew  him  and  extend  our
12    sincere  condolences  to  his family, friends, and community;
13    and be it further

14        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
15    presented  to  the  family  of  Earl  Neely  with our deepest
16    sympathy.