HR0408 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0408 LRB095 12103 GRL 36005 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to recognize milestone events in the lives of citizens of the State; and

WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Clara Pearl Davis of Olney will celebrate her 100th birthday on July 21, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Davis, as she is known to her friends, was born on July 21, 1907 in Shelbyville, Missouri; she is the second of four children born to Henry and Myrtle Hilbert; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her life, Pearl Davis has experienced many memorable events; she reflects warmly on washing kerosene lamp shades and washing laundry on wash boards as part of her normal chores; she remembers petticoats made from feed sacks and Christmas trees decorated with real candles, as well as playing with dolls with porcelain heads and playing house with her sister Lillian; she still recalls a time when doctors performed house calls; she looks back fondly on summer evenings when friends and neighbors would gather on someone's porch or yard with an old Victrola and sing along with the music, sitting between her father's legs and keeping time with the music; and

WHEREAS, After Pearl Davis graduated from high school in Shelbyville, she enrolled in a teachers training course; she worked for a minister and baby-sat to support herself while in training; upon graduation from teachers training she accepted a position teaching grades one through eight in a one room school house; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Davis met and was courted by her future husband, William J. Davis, of Shelbyville, Missouri around 1922; during this time Mr. Davis joined the military; Clara Pearl Hilbert was united in Holy Matrimony to William (Bill) Davis on May 15, 1928; from this holy union three sons were born, Billie Lee, Michael Eugene, and Richard Jesse Davis; and

WHEREAS, After their marriage, Mr. Davis was transferred to Fort Cook, Nebraska, where Pearl joined him; while stationed at Ft. Cook, Billie Lee and Michael were born; at the start of World War II, Mr. Davis and his family were transferred to Fort Ord, California, where Richard was born; the family lived in many places until Mr. Davis retired from the United States Air Force, when the family moved to Olney; while living in Olney the family joined the First United Methodist Church, remaining there until 1951, when they transferred their church membership to St. Paul United Methodist Church and began co-teaching Sunday School classes, a position Pearl still holds today; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Davis is regarded by all who know her to be a loving person and an extremely dedicated Sunday School teacher; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Clara Pearl Davis on celebrating this momentous birthday and wish her good health and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Clara Pearl Davis as a symbol of our esteem and respect.