MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 4, 2017
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MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners extending sympathy and condolences to the family of Michaelene Yates
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WHEREAS, Michaelene Lenora Rogers was born to James Rogers and Shirley Clemons on October 28, 1947 in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, affectionately known as “Mickey,” Michaelene was educated in the Chicago Public School system, graduating from Henry Horner Elementary and Wendell Phillips High School; and
WHEREAS, Michaelene married the love of her life, the late Richard Yates, Sr. on July 4, 1976; and
WHEREAS, the couple was blessed with three children: Aleshia, Richard, Jr. and Monique; and
WHEREAS, Michaelene was devoted to her children and was a homemaker for several years while also assisting her husband with the family business, Yates Towing Service; and
WHEREAS, after years of devoting her time to her children’s school, serving as PTA mom and an art teacher’s assistant, Michaelene decided to transition back into the workforce. She worked for several different temp agencies before landing her dream job with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, where she worked for 25 years as an Administrative Specialist; and
WHEREAS, always one to give back to the community, for years, Michaelene volunteered during her work lunch breaks for the Working in the Schools program, where she read with Chicago Public School children; and
WHEREAS, surrounded by educators in her family, Michaelene decided to return to school, first earning an Associate of Arts degree in 2001 from Harold Washington College and then a Bachelor of Professional Studies in 2008 from Roosevelt University; and
WHEREAS, a woman of deep faith, Michaelene was born and raised in the First Church of Deliverance, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and in the Health Ministry and sang in the choir; and
WHEREAS, Michaelene enjoyed traveling with her church and spending time with her grandchildren and her lifelong friends Suzette, Betty, Linda and Gracie; and
WHEREAS, Michaelene was called home on April 14, 2017 where she was reunited with her parents, her brother, James Rogers, Jr., her sister, Monique Rogers and her Aunt Pat; and
WHEREAS, she leaves to celebrate her life and memory: her daughter, Aleshia (Courtney) Perkins; her son, Richard Yates, Jr.; her daughter Monique; grandchildren Joshai’, Amariah, Courtney, Charlye, Chayse, Tatayonna, Ra’Sean, Richard III, Jaime Jr., and Iliana; her great-grandchild, Autumn; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, friends, First Church of Deliverance family and MWRD friends; and
WHEREAS, Michaelene’s coworkers will miss seeing her near-constant smile, her positive attitude, and her gentle sense of humor; and
WHEREAS, to quote Rabindranath Tagore, “Say not in grief that she is no more but say in thankfulness that she was. A death is not the extinguishing of a light, but the putting out of the lamp because the dawn has come”; and
WHEREAS, may the light of Michaelene’s memory provide comfort to her family and friends; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of Michaelene Yates; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: May 4, 2017
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan Morakalis, Acting General Counsel, SM:aw