SR1031LRB098 20686 GRL 57451 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of  James William Ayers of Spring Grove, who 
4passed away on March 5, 2014; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, James Ayers was born on December 31, 1941 in 
6Waterloo, Iowa; his parents were Lowell and Katherine Ayers; he 
7married Margaret (Maggie) Bellingham in 1976; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, While attending Waterloo East High School, James 
9Ayers was employed as a writer at the Waterloo Courier and 
10later at the Fort Dodge Messenger and Rochester Post Bulletin; 
11in the late 1960s, he worked in public affairs with the 
12Minnesota Republican Party before moving back to Rochester to 
13work as an editorial writer at the Post Bulletin, where he 
14lived with his family for 18 years until they moved to 
15Johnsburg, where he worked as an independent insurance agent; 
16and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, James Ayers was a member of All Saints Lutheran 
18Church and the Johnsburg OldTimers Baseball Club; his love of 
19sports was expressed through his officiating at recreational, 
20youth, high school, and college baseball, softball, 
21basketball, football and volleyball games, which continued up 
22until his passing; he enjoyed attending local sporting events 
 
 
SR1031- 2 -LRB098 20686 GRL 57451 r

1and University of Minnesota Golden Gopher games with his sons; 
2he also enjoyed traveling with his family, jokes, playing board 
3and card games with his family, and watching birds and wildlife 
4from his back deck; and

  
 
5    WHEREAS, James Ayers is survived by his wife, Margaret; his 
6sons, Nathan and Brandon (Giana); his siblings, Josephine 
7(Phil), David (Bev), John (Cathie), and Joan (Diane); his 
8father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Carmen Bellingham; 
9his other in-laws; and his many nieces, nephews, extended 
10family members, and referee colleagues; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his 
13family and friends, mourn the passing of James William Ayers; 
14and be it further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to the family of James Ayers as an expression of our 
17sympathy.