Remember 1976?

Seems that lots of people like to put old photos on Facebook-- "throw back Thursday", "flash back Friday", etc. Thought I would feature some of the Extension Advisers/Home Economics that were listed in a 1976 directory of the Illinois Association of Extension Home Economists. (IAEHE--now IEAFCS)

The first individual listed was Kathy Augustine. She was working in Lee County, and had been in her position since 1973.  She attended Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois.

Anyone remember?

Member Update

Amy Griswold has not really retired. She is working full time for the Western Illinois Agency on Aging. I believe she said she was a Program Coordinator for Evidence Based Programming. Sounds like it definitely fits in with her Family & Consumer Science Expertise!

Amy also has several grandsons--8 or 9, I think. They and the rest of her family keep her busy--and young--right Amy?

The first issue of FYI for 2015 has been published. It is available at  http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/fyi/. 

Condolences to Judy Taylor on the loss of her father on January 5th. There is a link to the obituary.  It is also interesting to note what the new mileage rates are.

Member Update

Rachel Schwarzendruber retired from Extension in February 2014. She has grand kids in  Austin, Texas and Arlington Heights that  provide visit opportunities.

She also reported that the Extension Family Life Team  received national recognition for their Caregiving Relationships curriculum. Good job ladies! I'm sure anyone interested in getting the information could contact a member of the Family Life Team. That issue will affect most of us sooner or later.

Rachel had an interesting goal. She said she intended to clean her house and get rid of half of everything she had! Wish I could do that! I will be interested to talk to her and see how she is getting along with that project.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and best wishes for great things in 2015! It is 365 days to be filled with the usual trials and tribulations of life. Your IEAFCS friends hope that most of them are as good as they can be for each and every one of you.

The last issue of For Your Information for 2014 was posted recently. Here is the URL if you would like to connect. web.extension.uiuc.edu/fyi/

It does note that Jane Scherer is retiring as of today, 12/31/14 with more than 40 years of service. Congratulations to her on reaching that milestone.

University of Illinois is also in the process of getting a new president. Timothy L. Killeen will be officially approved as U of I's 20th president by the Board of Trustees on January 15th. Dr. Killeen has most recently been at the State University of New York. Additional information on his career and accomplishments is included in FYI.

You may also want to look at the list of Extension Award of Excellence winners and others who have been recognized for their accomplishments. There are some names you will recognize.

It is noted as well that Loren Bode passed away on Dec. 3rd. We had previously mentioned the passing of Dale Bateman on October 19th. Condolences to their families and friends.

Christmas Time Again!

It seems like time flies faster every year! Does anyone else feel that way?

Southern Region Extension retirees and friends gathered recently at Mary's Restaurant in Herrin for a fun day of visiting and good food. It was great to see everyone and catch up on the latest.

Those pictured are (front row): Joy Richey, Sharon Tanner, Joyce Pyatt, Carol Schlitt, and Martha Speir. (Standing): Martha Winter, Lois Smith, Ruby Lingle, Donna Whitlock Rumsey, Kathy Harrison, and Janet Burnett.

We learned about travel plans to Florida for the winter, new grand kids added to the families, some health issues, a second retirement for one retiree, AND that Kathy Harrison had her 80th birthday on Thanksgiving Day! Way to go, Kathy!

Best wishes from the Southern Region to everyone for a great holiday season!

Condolences to the Family of Mary Fouts

PEKIN ~ Mary Elizabeth Fouts, 89, of Pekin, passed away at 9:21 a.m. Monday, December 1, 2014 at Pekin Manor.  She was formerly of Tower Hill.

Born March 6, 1925 in Royalton to Philip and Vesta Louvisa (Henderson) Baumgarte, she married Walter Whittles on February 16, 1946 in Tower Hill.  He died November 29, 1960 in Shelbyville.  She later married Gilbert Warren Fouts on March 9, 1962 in Tower Hill. He died September 16, 1962 in Meredosia.  She also was preceded in death by her parents; one son, James Philip Whittles; her son-in-law, Paul Lewis and two brothers.


Surviving are one daughter, Edana Louvisa Lewis of Peoria; eight grandchildren, Michelle Lynn (Brad) Shelton of California, Philip Walter Whittles of Los Angeles, CA, William James “Will” (Jen) Lahvic of Algonquin, Katherine Leigh (Lars) Geary of Spooner, WI, Elizabeth Jamie (Matt) Jackson of Aurora, JoAnna Leigh (John LaBelle) Lewis of Madison, WI, Walter Albert Lewis of Peoria and Mary Katherine (Colin) Gibbons of Winston-Salem, NC; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.  She also leaves a daughter-in-law, Pamela Whittles of Naperville.


A 1942 graduate of Tower Hill High School, Mary was a 1959 graduate of Eastern Illinois University at Charleston with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.  She earned her Master of Science Degree in Marriage and Family from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb in 1966.


Mary was a Home Economics teacher in Jr. and Sr. High schools for a total of 21 years, teaching at Tower Hill for 11 years, then at Meredosia for a year and lastly at Earlville for 9 years.  She then moved to Pekin to work as a home economist for 20 years at the Tazewell County Cooperative Extension Service, retiring in 1992.


She was a charter member, director and past president of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society.  She was a member and financial secretary for the Home and Community Education in Tazewell County.  She was a 50-year member of the Mazeppa Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Tower Hill, where she was a past Matron.


Mary was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Deborah Circle.


Her funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 5, 2014 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  The Rev. James C. McClarey will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour before the funeral.  Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville, with the Rev. Phillip Glick officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society, 719 North 11^th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or the Shelby County Genealogical Society, 151 South Washington Street, Shelbyville, IL 62565

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com

Member Update

Barb Farner has traveled to South Africa, Madagascar, Nepal, and Bhutan during the past year. If you are like me and never heard of Bhutan, it is a small landlocked country in South Asia located at the Eastern end of the Himalayas. China is to the north, and the rest of the country is surrounded by India.

She goes on some shorter trips too--one being the quilt show in Paducah, KY in April each year. She has developed interests in quilting and genealogy since retirement.

Barb's mother passed away in June at the age of 94. She also shared with us that a nephew and his wife who got married a year or so ago welcomed a baby girl in March. That was the first baby born into their family in 32 years! Think she might get a little spoiled??