Bill
SR 485
The Senate adopts SR 485 as a ceremonial memorial for Clarence "Ed" Barker and Roy Lee Johlfs, conveying condolences and directing copies to their families.
Status: Resolution Adopted
Introduced: May 1, 2025
Classification: Senate resolution (memorial)
Primary Sponsors: Sally Harrell; Shawn Still; Larry Walker, III; David Lucas; Ed Harbison; Max Burns; Freddie Powell Sims; Russ Goodman; Rick Williams; Harold Jones II; Lee Anderson; Steve Gooch; John F. Kennedy; Neil Anderson
Procedural actions (selected): Received by Secretary of the Senate 2025-05-01; Senate read & adopted (listed 2025-03-28 and 2025-05-05); vote recorded and reported enrolled 2025-05-05; filed with Secretary 2025-10-28; listed as co-sponsored by all senators and referred to Resolutions Consent Calendar 2025-10-28; Resolution Adopted 2025-10-31.
Purpose
- SR 485 is a ceremonial memorial resolution honoring the life and public service of a deceased individual(s). The text included in the legislative file contains memorial language for two persons: Clarence “Ed” Barker and Roy Lee Johlfs. The resolution expresses the Senate’s condolences and directs that an appropriate copy of the resolution be made available to the family.
Key provisions and content
- The resolution is entirely honorary; it does not change law, create obligations, or appropriate funds. Key elements are biographical recitals and statements of appreciation for the deceased:
- Clarence “Ed” Barker
- Born in Augusta and raised in Warner Robins, Georgia.
- Worked from a young age (operated a gas station while in high school).
- Served nine consecutive terms in the Georgia Senate (representing the 18th Senatorial District) from 1973–1991.
- Served as president of the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and the Air Force Association.
- After politics, moved to Highlands, North Carolina, where he and his wife Janet ran a furniture and decorator showroom for over 20 years.
- Active in civic and religious initiatives (e.g., involvement in Jimmy Carter’s campaign and organizing Billy Graham services).
- Survived by his wife of over 70 years, children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to his family.
- Roy Lee Johlfs
- Born July 5, 1948 in Chicago; died September 22, 2025, in Macomb.
- Education: Grant Community High School (Fox Lake) and Western Illinois University.
- Military service: U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War as an aviation electronics technician (squadron VA‑144; served aboard USS Bon Homme Richard).
- Career: U.S. Department of Defense employee; controller/office manager at Midwest Control Products Corp.; owner/operator of Johlfs Insurance (Allstate agent); University of Illinois Master Gardener; landscaping business owner; retired from Pella Window Corp. in 2010.
- Community involvement: Wesley United Methodist Church member; president of Macomb Little League.
- Family: Married Judy K. Foxall in 1992 (previously married to Connie T. McAdams); survived by son Craig S. Johlfs (MJ), grandson Julian, siblings; preceded in death by parents, wife Judy, son Russel Roy, and sister Shirley.
- Resolution text expresses the Illinois Senate’s sympathy and directs that a suitable copy be presented to his family.
Who is affected
- This is a non‑binding, symbolic resolution. Its primary “effects” are ceremonial: it honors the deceased, records Senate recognition of their service and community contributions, and provides an official copy of the resolution to surviving family members. There are no legal, regulatory, or fiscal impacts on state government, agencies, or third parties.
Notable procedural/timeline points
- The legislative history as recorded shows multiple readings/adoptions and later administrative filing and broad co-sponsorship (noted as “Co‑Sponsor All Senators” on 2025‑10‑28). The file appears to contain memorial language for two different individuals (Barker and Johlfs), which may reflect consolidation of memorial items in the printed docket or an administrative compilation.
Bottom line
- SR 485 is an adopted Senate memorial resolution honoring the life and service of the individual(s) named in the text (Clarence “Ed” Barker and Roy Lee Johlfs). It is purely honorary, conveys the Senate’s condolences, and authorizes delivery of an official copy to the families.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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