SR1031 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1031 LRB101 20725 LAW 70400 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Lynn Otis "Orville" Blair, who passed away on February 9th, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Blair was born in Cutler to Harvey and Lena Blair on December 31, 1929; he graduated from Pinckneyville High School in 1947; he married Barbara Hulett in Rock Island in February of 1951; he was drafted by the U.S. Army shortly thereafter and completed basic training in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks; he served 18 months in the Panama Canal before heading home to East Moline in 1953; and

WHEREAS, Upon returning to the U.S., Lynn Blair started his first 30-year career at Northwestern Bell and AT&T as a journey lineman; after retiring from the phone company, he started his second 30-year career at Flowers by Fredericks delivering flowers; he found great joy and made the extra effort to deliver flowers to nursing homes and hospital rooms in person; he retired in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Blair enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, taking long drives on country roads, and playing shuffle board; he was noted for his love of flowers and having the best-looking yard on 3rd street A; he was an avid Cardinals fan and had the honor of visiting all three Cardinals stadiums in his lifetime; he was also recognized as the number one United Township basketball fan, attending every practice and almost every game for three straight years; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Blair was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Lena Blair; his brothers, Don and Harold (Doc) Blair; his sisters-in-law, Ruth and Neola Blair; his wife, Barbara Blair; his granddaughter, Kayla Blair; and his special friend, Pam Yakovich; and

WHEREAS, Lynn Blair is survived by his children, Mary (Dave) Crotty, Steve (Amy) Blair, Becky (Kevin) DeMeyer, and Brian (Amy) Blair; his grandchildren, Jeff Crotty, Jenny (Steve Kaiser) Crotty, Todd (Bobbie Jo) Crotty, Sara (Sam Gerard) Blair, Angie (Nate Webber) Blair, Joey (Tera) DeMeyer, Johnny (Becca) DeMeyer, Jared (Summer) DeMeyer, Kara (Nick Maldonado) Blair, Alyssa Blair, Dylan Olson, Rachel Boswell, Blake Setser, and Taylor Setser; his great-grandchildren, Colin Hadley, Alexis Crotty, Cameron Minella, Nina Crotty, Jack Crotty, Charlie Gerard, Tori Savage, Dustin Savage, Blair DeMeyer, Preston DeMeyer, Ellie Lewis-DeMeyer, Levi DeMeyer, Lincoln DeMeyer, Layne DeMeyer, Paisley DeMeyer, Savannah Johnson, Avalynn Olson, Noah Maldonado, Novalee Maldonado, Keith Blair, and Kyler Blair; his special niece, Linda Blair; his wife's sister, Vickie Rumler; and his special friend, Jenny Little; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lynn Otis "Orville" Blair and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lynn Blair as an expression of our deepest sympathy.