HR1221 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1221 LRB098 21930 MST 60792 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Earline (nee Colbert) Rivers, who passed away on June 29, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Earline Rivers was born in Chicago on November 7, 1940 to John Harry and Gladys Colbert; she graduated from Englewood High School, and attended Northern Illinois University; she married Alvin Donald Rivers in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Earline Rivers worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative and later as a real estate agent; she also served as an office manager at her daughter's law firm for 8 years; and

WHEREAS, Earline Rivers was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, where she served on the Food Share Ministry; she was an auxiliary board member of the Black Ensemble Theater, where she helped raised funds, coordinate events, and acted as a hostess; she attended several weekly "Silver Sneakers" classes at the YMCA, and worked tirelessly on her daughters's successful campaign for Cook County Circuit Court Judge; and

WHEREAS, Earline Rivers had a passion for dance and enjoyed watching "Dancing with the Stars"; she also enjoyed storytelling, gardening, cooking, skiing, camping, bowling, tennis, and many other outdoor activities; she was an active member of the Sno-Gophers Ski Club, serving in several capacities, including President; in 1999, she walked a marathon in Anchorage, Alaska to raise money for Leukemia research; she loved to travel and visited Italy, France, Egypt, Monaco, Switzerland, and Canada; she traveled extensively throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Earline Rivers was preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings, James Otha McLaughlin, George McLaughlin, and Gladys Eugenia Ward; and

WHEREAS, Earline Rivers is survived by her children, Byron (Alena) Rivers and the Honorable Kristal (Harry) Rivers; her grandchildren, Olivia Noelle and Evelyn Rose Rivers; and a host of family and loved ones, including her dearest friend, Sylvia Morris, and her dog, Chewbacca; 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 Earline Rivers, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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