Member Update

Bev Combs still enjoys her garden and likes to do a lot of canning and freezing--if the garden turns out well! Let's hope for the best this summer.

She also spends time reading, and is learning to quilt.When the need arises she still does foods judging for 4-H.

Some sadness came to her family with the loss of her son during the past year--something that parents should not have to face. A trip to Houston to see her sister was also in her plans.

She is currently helping with the committee that is putting together the 100 Years of Extension Reunion in Mt. Vernon on May 2nd. Hope to see many of you there!

Southern Illinois Extension Celebration

Now is the time to register for the 100 Year Extension Celebration in Mt. Vernon, IL. The deadline is April 18th. Here is the URL: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=9790. You may also contact Patti Fitzpatrick at 618-242-9474.

All Extension retirees, former Extension workers, current Extension staff and their guests are invited. You should have received an e-mail concerning this, but if you did not, send a note to ieafcslife@gmail.com for more information.

The event is Friday, May 2nd from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 or 2:00 p.m.at Crossroads Hospital, #8 Doctors Park Rd, in Mt. Vernon, IL. A lasagna and salad lunch will be served. There will be a short program related to Extension's history, and plenty of time for sharing with  former co-workers and friends. Everyone is encouraged to bring photos, mementos, and stories.

The University of Illinois is covering some of the costs for the day, but each attendee will need to pay $5.00 to help with the cost of lunch. Take a minute and register now!

The planning committee is Bev Combs, Larry Casey, Paul Wirth, Ruby Lingle, Joy Richey, Pam Jacobs, Linda Crawl Jackson, and Jane Scherer. We hope to see you there.

Two other celebrations are also planned for May 9th in Naperville, and May 13th in Morris, IL. Contact your local Extension office for more information on those.

Update from Extension

It is April, and there are signs that spring is coming. We are all ready--that's for sure!

The last issue of For Your Information had several notes of interest. Here is the link if you would like to read it in detail: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/fyi/

Mary Cheze Harris passed away in February. There is a link to further information on that. She had continued to live in Champaign after her retirement from Extension.

John Horton is leaving Extension to go to the University of Colorado at Boulder. Seventeen new educators have been employed, and that is a good sign for clientele needing research based information.

Also note that Tom Ward sent out a message stating that the University would not allow any computer that is still using an XP operating system to access its network after April 8th. That is when Microsoft support for XP systems ends.

I assume that means you would no longer be able to get mail from your university account if your computer has not been updated.

Southern Region Retirees Meet in Marion

Jasone's Bed & Breakfast in Marion was the location for a recent meeting of Southern Region IEAFCS retirees. Carol Schlitt, Martha Speir, Janet Burnett, Joyce Pyatt, Ruby Lingle, and Joy Richey enjoyed lunch and a very interesting talk.

Dr. Phillip Anton, Associate Professor of Exercise Science at SIU, and two of his students led a discussion on the Strong Survivor Exercise program for cancer patients and caregivers.

 It is a joint effort between Southern Illinois University, John A. Logan College, and Southern Illinois Health Care. The importance of physical fitness in dealing with the disease is emphasized. An informational flyer is available for anyone who would like more information. Send an e-mail to ieafcslife@gmail.com to request a copy.

Note that the bus trip for this fall is Sept. 3-7 if you missed the earlier notice. We will tour points of interest in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Member Update

During the past year, Diane Duewer has been to Florida and on a Scandinavian Cruise--in addition to her trip to Arizona to the jewelry show recently.

She meets every Thursday with a Majan group and makes Chinese tiles. She also makes Memory Bears and does some quilting. Her Daschund dog is an ever faithful companion as well.

Save these dates! The fall IEAFCS bus trip is set for Sept. 3-7--Wednesday through Sunday. More details will follow soon.

Condolences for Ruth Hay

Thanks to Sharon Kuhns for sending this information. I believe Ruth was a youth adviser for many years. Some of you may remember her.

March 09, 2014 3:30 pm  •  By Penny Weaver

CHARLESTON, IL – Ruth P. Hay, age 84 of Charleston, passed peacefully from this life at her Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation home on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The Funeral Service honoring and celebrating her life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with Pastor Sharon Patton officiating. There will be no public visitation. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2014 in the Lighthouse Cemetery located in Oregon, Illinois. It is requested that thoughtful donations in her honor be made to the Wesley United Methodist Youth Ministry. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the services or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.
Ruth was born on December 27, 1929 in Colome, South Dakota to the late H. Oliver and Jessie B. (Zumbaugh) Porter. She spent her formative years on a farm near Plymouth, Indiana and received her Bachelors Degree from Manchester College located in North Manchester, Indiana. She married R. Gerald Hay in August of 1949 and spent the next 42 years in the Chicago area as a parent, teacher and Extension Youth Adviser for the University of Illinois in Southern Cook County. She is survived by her five children: a daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Schwartz and husband Bob of Charleston; 4 sons, Gerald Hay and wife Deborah of Keaau, Hawaii, Gordon Hay of Tucson, Arizona, Grant Hay of Arthur, Illinois and Gerson Hay and wife Carlene also of Keaau; 8 grandchildren Terina Coffey, Valerie Staggs, Scott Schwartz, Jared Hay, Grant Hay, Krystal Nicholls, Alex Hay and James Hay; and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband who passed away on November 12, 1978.
In 1998 Ruth retired to Charleston to be near her daughter and family. She soon made Charleston her home and volunteered her time at Lincoln Log Cabin, was actively involved with the League of Women Voters and was a member of the Home Extension Association. She was a woman of faith and a devoted member of Wesley United Methodist Church and was actively involved with its Shawl Ministry, Retirees and Compassion Ministry and assisted with the Kid’s Club. Ruth enjoyed creating a warm and inviting home which she loved sharing with the family and friends who will dearly miss her presence in their lives.
Ruth’s memorial website is available at www.adamsfuneralchapel.com where condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on obituaries.
To leave condolences online, visit www.jg-tc.com, click on obituaries, select the individual’s name and click on “Comments” to log in.

Fun in the Sun!

A group of Illinois Extension retirees recently paid a visit to Charlotte Crawford in Green Valley Arizona. She treated them to breakfast, and they enjoyed lots of sunshine!

Pictured are Carol Schlitt, Mary Ann Adams, Paula Robinson, Charlotte, Janet Burnett and Diane Duewer. According to the report I received, it was a fun trip for everyone.