Leland Homer Raysow

~ August 23, 1921 - January 8, 2001 ~
“It’s Time”

Jim called me at work. 1t was atiout 10 am, Saturday morning.
He said, “Mom wants everyone fo come down here, right away.
“OK... See you soon. How ishe?" “Bad. 48 hours, max. They fook
out the LY.

1 fold Ginger, “I gotta go." “Now, ya mean" “Yeah." On the
weekends, fhey give us ashort crew. There's only two of us. During
the week. we are three. I've worked compatibly with Ginger for @
long fime. We've been thiough the mi fogether. But | couldn'tjust
leave herin the lurch.

1t fook about an hour before we were able fo peel off one of the
workers af @ nearby plaza who had a sightly bigger crew. They
understood. They felt for me and all had gone fhrough similar fimes -
like everybody else who's ever lived.

| called Leslie anc fold her. She and her two living sisters had lost
both their father and then their mother in the last four years. She
‘would start the ball rofing ot home. We had fo drop everything, stort
packing up and gol She had to run around town, cash a check, buy
afew things, amange fo have someone pick up our mail and tell the
schools the boys would have 1o skip next week.

I huried up and drove home in akind of daze. | figured 1'd put
gasin the car, check the fluids. | tried to brace myself for a brutal
diive down to Florida of maybe 1,200 miles. | realized that 1 left my
‘wallet at work. Great startl I stopped at home, anyway, saw
Stanton, made a sandwich and went back towork. At least it was
there.

I didn't know what to pack, so | just shoved some clothes from
various drawers of my dresser info a suitcase and threw some popers
and zines fogether info a briefcase.

Istarted caling cirines ot O'Hare and Midway. frying fo somehow
catch an affordable deal. Fat chancel Even with the 50%
“grievance discount" they were outrageous! Four hundred dollors
apiece - one wayl What a rip-off. It didn't help that it was the
weekend and we were walk-up customers - desperate for a quick
fight.

‘We confinued getiing ready. The boys were excited. They liked
the idea of going fo Slorida. getling o 9o 1o the beach, seeing their
cousins, flyingin an airplane again and kissing the next week of
school goodbye. This was fempered by their concem for their
Grandpo.
3

My main concem was rying fo figure out a woy to get four
people fo Florida before my Daddy died, without going into debt.
Then. | finally got through to Pan Am, which fiies from Gary fo Sanger.
Florida, about 130 miles from Port st Lucie. | really didn't want fo
have fo dive. It's 50 long, takes forever and my carhad a slow leak
in one of the fires. Plus, we'd have fo drive back, fool

We got real lucky! Usually their fiights south are in the moming,
but Saturdays, they also fly aftemoons. It was about 2:30 or so by
now. The flight was schedled for 3:20 but was delayed unti 3:50.

+ Pius, it went directly fo Fiorida, without the usual stop in southem
Hinois.
The fares were much cheaper, but not “cheap.” | asked about
* the grievance discount. He said "It only appiies i the bereaved has
aiready died."” Once again, my compulsive affiiction of Instincively
teling the truth, gets me again.

So. we gave him our credif card number and bought four fickets
that were non-refundable.

OKI The race s onl First, 1 had fo waste a couple minutes being
frantic and spastic. moving my ams, dashing poinflessly about and
inducing panic in a pathetic attempt to hury things up.

We finally shove everything in, jump in and fake off. | figure we.
better take one of my patented “short cuts” to save fime. At most. it
‘would have cuta minute off our fime. | foke the wrong road and
have to double back. fying fo squiggle back over there to it. We
end up at a dead end i front of some guy's hause. Not good. That
kiled about fen minufes.

1 get back on frack, “save” my litle minute and fry fo get there.
Last fime | went there was only three weeks ago and | got miserably
lost. “Luckily.” that fiight was aimost four hours late, anyway. So, ot

- least | knew what | had fo do fo get there.

We finally get on I - 80. Oh, nol t's a truck parking loh We only
have to go maybe four mills on fhis, but that could easlly fake over
an hour, at this nighimare rofel The kids are adding 1o the nerve
fraying by asking if we're gonna miss our fight. That'd be a fine
kettle ot fish, wouldn't it21‘Miss the flight, pay for it anyway and stil
have fo drive all the way to Floridol

Isee a guy drive the shoulder, so | follow him. | get off on the next
exit and biindly grope my woy in the general direction of the aitport.
I've never been here before and will never come back through this
industrial wastelond of northwestern Indiana, west of Gary.
Somehow, | guess fight and fake a crucially important right tum
which puts me on Ciine Avenue North, which i flowing freely. thank
God!
4

Now, we may have a chance. If's already 3:35. We get there at
3:45. 1 park in front of the terminal grab the luggage and fhe kids
and scumy in. Leslie parks the car. 1 repeat the franic bit with the
‘women behind the check-out counter. The flight's not delayed. We
get our fickets and hustie through the metal defector.

There’s only one problem. | keep setling off the ciamm. 1 empty all
my pockets and offer to take my belt off. They finally give up and iet
s go. We hurty onio ihe piane. They praciically closed that big old
door onmy coatl

‘We had to walk aimost fo the back fo find two rows with window
seats tha weren't over the wings. What areliefl Within two minutes.
the plane s foxiing and fhen takes off. We got woried and asked o
fiight attendant to make sure they tossed our luggage on board.
They did.

i ell you, Man, we flew down here! The whole fight couidn't
have taken more than two hours! It seemed we got our “hot fowels™
our giant cookies. our cokes and our mints, one after the other.
Those cookies can make you sickl Baked af some cheap bakery,
somewhere, they freeze ‘em, thaw ‘em, freeze ‘em, thaw ‘em and
then give them fo you. We joked around about gremlins and tried
o descibe what the clouds going by looked like.

So all of @ sudden, we were in Florida already! 1 old Leslie I'd
walk over fo Dollar, pick up a car and meet them back here. The
Quy said he didn't have any cars! 1 said, "What am I supposed fo
do#" “Where do you hatta go?" “Port St. Lucie.” “Ew. Well you
might have o get a cab and spend the night in Orlando. There's
Alamo, but | think they're closed.”

Great! So, Imarched down to Alamo. tlooked closed, but | saw
a guy inside and banged on the window. He lef me in. 1said |
needed a car. He kinda winced. Al of a sudden, a girl oppeared
and woke up a computer and | got hold of a car.

S0, we shot over fo my Mom's house in about two hours. Seemed
everything we did fook two hours that day. We burst in the door
about 10:30 pin - the first wave of those called down from afar.

They were amazed that we got down there so fast. So was il Jim
was there and Bill. Guida and Miguel and my Uncle Glenn, my Dad's
oldest brother. Everyone was pretty fired. My Mom insisted we sleep
inher bed. She'd fake the couch. So, we il hit the deck.

1 couldn't sleep long, knowing | was in my Dad's bed, whie he
‘was a few miles away, dyin' in @ hospitall | fook @ quick bath and
‘woke up Jim. “Jimi Wake upl Let's go see Dadl" "Now?" “Yeah!"
“What fime i ite" *2:30." “OK. Let me get dressed.

5

Jim had been down fur a while. Thank God! Mom couldn't have
done without him. 3 couldn't move, anymore. They had to fake.
himinto the hospital. We pulled into the hospital parking lot and he
parked by his favorite spot - “by the shed” - near a free.

It felt 50 good fo be with Jim. He's such a dear, sweet guy. He's
the youngest of us. He knew the dil. He knew what fo do, where fo
o, where the coffee wos -where Dod was! You get so worried and
nervous and anxious if you don't know anything, you know?

Dad had a sitter - a real nice, attentive caring nurse, who had a
reai soft spot for Dad. because he'd been 50 sweet, even while
suffering sol He was sleeping when we arived, but woke up soon
upon hearing our voices. He couldn't “sieep” anyway, with his body
shutting down on him!

He recognized me and even said my name! He stillhad a lot of
strength in his grip, but he couldn't really talk. He aiso had pretty
bad alzheimer's. | think he understood us, though. He'd smile and
chuckle. He said “please” a lof. When we asked him a question. he
could only say, “I don't know.” im gave him water and ice chips.
We hugged him and fold him how much we loved him. We moved
him around sightly. frying o make him more comfortable. Jim got o
nurse fo give him another shot of morphine. He was in pain.

1t was a real relief to see him, taik to him, hold him, kiss him and
hear his old, familiar soothing voice. At about five, we headed
back, We went back fobed. |1 thought “He's stll alivel” But, he was
dying and going fast.

My Mother went fo be with him, early in the moming. From then
on, there was always ot least one family member with him, often
several. Leslie, Stanton, Stephen and | went over there about 11 am.
Stephen looked at him breathing with difficulty, looking gaunt and
such and told my Mom, “I think we should call the doctor.” She
appreciated that.

The rest of the day. we floated in and out of his room, hung out at
the hospital snack shop and talked fo eachother.

The hospice people came and we had a fomily meefing with
them. But it dicn't matter, because Dad only had a few hours,
anyway. He wasn't going anywhere nor would he need any “care.”
Itwas all @ formality.

Bil did some valuable sleuthing work and found out about a
place called Molly's House. It wos two blocks avay! Families con
stay there for $10/night as their loved one hovers near death af the
hospital. Molly was a delightful young lady who died of leukemia ot
age 19. Her dream was fo have such a place for famiiies and the
dream come true.

A

My family and | stayed there the next six nights, 1t was beaufiiul
and very quiet. Other people stayed there 100 - Bill Miguel, Guida,
Lee. my Uncle Del and Aunt Carol, Tom and his family. 1t was o reol
blessing for us.

There was another couple that we talked 1o on our floor during
breakiast. Their forly year old son had a ferrible accident at work
and he'd had several operations on his brain. But they thought they
were beginning fo see the light at the end of a long, dork funnel. He
was gonna make il That put joy in our hearls for them.

More family kept artiving and coming info Dad's room. After Jim
and I saw himin the middle of the night, he couidn't talk ot all. We.
falked 1o him. held his hand and forehead and gave him ice chips.
He grew more frail, gaunt and unrecognizable.

Monday was like Sundoy. Tom, one of the doctors of our family,
stayed with Dad all night. He had had a very rough, painful night.

We all came in the morming. not knowing what fo do. By the
afternoon, his condition was very grave. A nurse gave him a strong
shot of morphine.

| found myself on one side of him, his hand in my hand and my
other hand on his forehead. And I was whispering 1o him, “DaddyL..
1 will Doddy!... | know Daddy!" Tears were sireaming down my cheek
and off my chin. My Mom was on the ofher side and so was my
uncle Del. Dad's ofher brother. He was falking one-on-one o Dad
about when they were kics, brothers growin' up fogether. Maria was
there. She's anurse. She was always there - so helpul, like another
daughter. She was another daughter. She's Jim's wife. A lof of
people were there. | thought he might die, right then!

1let go fo lef someone else be near. Soon, like it was scripted, we
all decided to breok for dinner. We gave ourselves “shiffs” to be
there. regardless of whether anybody else was there or not. | got the.
3am -6 om. slot. Mom stayed with Dad first.

We got back maybe an hour and a half or two hours lafer. But
Dad died about fen minutes earlier. Only Morn, his wife of 56 years
and Mother of his seven children was there with him, af the very end.
It seemed somehow fitting.

He wasn't immorial and he was now sfil. He didn't look anything
like himself. He'd suffered so ana complained but ittle. He was
gone! Taken from us, by that scourge. cancer! We'd have o pick
up the considerable slack. He had lived one monumental ffe!

He wonted to be cremated, which was just s well, because he
certainly didn't look like himself and Mom didn't want fo “show"
him. Mo will have a regular casket burial and she'll fuck his cshes
in with her.
It was decided that the memorial service would be on Friday at
one pm. at a church in Port St. Lucie. More family arived. Tom's
‘wife Mary and their boys, Colin and Billy came, as did Mary's Dad,
Bob. My sister Ann, her husband Buddy and son David came - from
Howaill John, Kathy and their children Jessica, Chioe, Bobby and
Bradley ail came. Mom's brothers and their wives George, Phil
Margaret and Dorothy were allthere. Bil's daughter Vanessa came
mdbrwgmnelbow.klm»mybcddy'soneundmwgem
grandchild. Unfortunately, o few couldn't make it. Ann's son Danny
‘and daughter Sarah were missed, as were Jim's sons, Chris and
Jimmy. My Father's sister Rohana and her husband couldn’t make it,
either. | know they all really, really wanted fo be there, as did all of
the rest of us. They were with us in spirit.

On Tuesday, my Mother and | made the rounds o the funeral
home and the cemetary. We hashed out the details of the service,
‘what cards and statements to use, the music, how to arange
pictures and flowers and things like that. She wanted fo infer Dad's
ashes in the grave, which was a ridiculous expense. We visited the
gravesite, which was in the Veferan's section.

Dod was a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserve ot the
end of his military coreer. He was in the thick of things in the Pacific,
during WWIl, having led two invasions in small boats landings. We
‘wanted fo make sure the funeral director would procure a naval
presence at the memorial. He said he'd get “one of the services.
said, “Nol If's gotta be the Navy! I'll call ‘em, if you wontl" The
Navy came and did an emotional flag ceremony. which capped off
the service.

The grave was just a small piece of land, sort of near a tree. |
assured Mom that we'd come visit, somefimes... She asked me what
happened at Grinnell College, which | dropped out of my freshman
year, in the spring of 1972.

©On Wednesday. me and my three younger brothers, Lee, Tom
«and Jim, along with my Dad's brother, Glenn - he's 851 went deep
sea fishing. We asked Glenn if he was up for it and if seasickness.
‘would bother him. He said there was a time a while back that he
got a litfle queasy - on the North Sea. The North Sea? That's like a
gigantic washing machine! Up against him, we were just little kidis in
a bath tub with our rubber duckies. Stanton and Stephen talked
their way on board, tool

Ireally disiike going out on the ocean like that, what with
seasickness, efc. It's like a rollercoaster ride you can never get off,
But the boys loved it. Several men in their twenties were curled upin
fetal positions the whole trip! | saw it os a rare chance 1o be with my
three younger brothers and Uncle. We caught few fish and Tom
won the pool for catching the biggest one. He spiit the dough with
the deckhand, who filetted our fish. Stanton caught a fish!

My tamiy went 10 the beach, 10o. | got my obligatory sunbum,
but didn't really go swimming - foo cold! We waited for friday, 8
talking and meefing eachother and getling ready. Early on Fiday,
we went back fo the beach to watch the sun fise over the ocean. It
was an eetie, quiet sight, but it was overcast and things just got sort
o lighter.

On Friday, everybody go! dressed and went over there. It was o
small, simple church, near my Mom's house. The minister falked a
while and then so did several of us. Maria helped make a wonderful
collage of pictures of Dad. I was on the verge of bursting out in fears
the whole while, like everybody else. Bill put fogether a real good
litle brochure with words and pictures that was made available.
Dad's zine. Wartime Experience Remembered was 0iso availabie.

Afler we'd all spoken, the three Navy people solemnly strode up
the aiste, carefully unfuring a big flag, then refolding . Then Tops
was ployed. Then fhe woman, think she was a Lieutenant
Commander herself, received the flag and presented it fo my
Mother. Her words were sliong and clear and slining. Several grown
men lost it at this point. 1 thought “We got the Navy, Mom!”

Then it was over and fhere was a small coffee and rolis reception.
We allheaded over fo Mom's house for a sort of reception /
banquet. We picked up a bunch of food waiting for us at @ nearby
slore ond a neighbor's refiigeralor. We ate and lalked and look a
ot of pictures

People began 1o filter out, some having to catch fiights hat night
or the next day, including us. It was Ihe firs lime I'd been with ail my
brothers and sister in very long fime. It was @ once-in-clifefime
situation.

ihe next moming we drove back o the airport. Once again. I se!
off the alarm. They figured out hat it was my shoes. They'd
manufactured a metal stip info them.

We came home to @ mountain of mail and newspapers. It was
nice fo be home. My Dad's dead! | think about him oll during every
day. Condolence cards and lefters poured in and | could hear the
voices of fhe people whose words | was reading. That helped. I'm
stillon the verge of tears. I'm gonna be more kind o people and
make o constant effort 1o check my temper. He was the
consummale genfleman. Like Tom said, "He was a great fahert”

My Mother has decided on having a memorial service for him on
June 91h, up here in Chicagoland, as well. After all his is where he
really made his mark and many people knew him and loved him. |
was able fo make some arrangements 1o ensure that we Could have
it at the Unitarian Church in Park Forest. It's a beautiful fittle church,
sef in @ wondrous piece of lond in the woods. It will be gorgeous in
early June with all of the wildflowers, leaves and other greenery.

it will be asort of celebration!

5 cold st i theieloved ones were
it i

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MOLLY'S
HOUSE

"Keeping Families
Together"

cany walking
I Medical
cerand Dewntown Stuare

INLOVING MEMORY OF

_'_ Leland Homer Rayson
BORN
August 23, 1921
God, grant me the serenity Oak Park, linais

1o accept the things

ENTERED INTO REST
1 cannot change, January 8, 2001
courage to change Stwar, Florida
the things I can, SERVICES
and wisdom Friday,January 12, 2001 o 1:00 PM
10 know the difference. First Presbyterian Chrch of Port St Lucie
OFFICIATING
K Dr. James Nimmo
&
Delwin Rayson

Fort et e & Mol Pak P . Pl

INLOVING MEMORY.

Letand H Rayson
Aug. 23,1921 ~Jan 8, 2001
n

Letand H. Rapon was bom Augst 23, 1921, in Osk P i, e youngst o fou chiden of
Besrice Rowlund Rayton and Enes Charies Rayson, tscher s ceifcd bl sccounsmt Wi
anending the Univesty of Rcheser, n Rocheser, NY, “Lec” Rayion calsid 1 the US. Novy's V.15
program.subequenly completn aidshipmen's scho t Colonbia Univerity. In 1944, while i sl
bost commasd rsiing in P Piews, Florda. e married Barbos Chandler Lee Rayon's wov 1
experience s i e Pcil hser 55 0 fTcer on a0 LST (g i k). e fof e swen of
Smohibas asauh aiings 3 Leyie U Lingayen Gull i the Philipiocs i ptiipuos i
imvosion of Okinawa. H. cvctally rircd (rom the Novl Resee with i rnk o1 Lietrns
Commanier. s WW I, Le compleed i degree ot Rochese and eumcd 0 0ok Pk He s
entered 2nd gradunied rom Noshwestem Univervisy Law Schoo.

In 1946, ther st child 3nd only daughier, Ava, was bom. Aan was (olowed by John in 1949,
im. 1951, Anibony. 1953, Lelnd. 955, Thomas, 1959, and James in 1961, Throsghostthee yeors
Rayson. a hard worker - his it job was choping wood for a denis ot 20 cents an hour - i §
‘successllaw practice thst sl bears s ame.

In Tiney Park. Les Rayson became acively invoived in Democratié politie. servng o Polce
Magisicwe nd Jusice of the Pec befor winsing sea n the linois St Legissare where he erves
for 7 terms il i i 1977. Inthe House. Lee's mjor achisvements wete i the filds af civirighus
s0d women'srght. e sponsored il 1 egalze sboron and eform what e consdered draconisdrog
aws. He was alto an avid comservtionist who Intoduced legisaon 1o reduce vehile emimion an)
‘conserve wair, He ntroduced and s pasage of the it erme vicim's compersation 1w It St of
inos. A tireess worker's righs advocse, nd unflogging opponet o eaprial punshmen. Lee won 3
favorie of the refornminded Indeperdem Vosers of Mol who consideed hi he mor independens
wncorrupible and pogresive merberof e Howse.

While Rayson enjosed sccesses n e legiltie arena, his poliica ativiy resched far bescad the
Hlls of govemment. Thvough jining th Civil Righis movemes i te oty 60 Lec Rayson comed of
e power of mas sction. He aveld 1 Misissipi 10 help fee amesed actvists from il and wten the
moverent headed sot. Lee bough his family o ralles snd marches n hicago ana Mileaukee 1o by
Martn Luthe King 3ad others. Lee Rayson undersiood Marin Luther King's messsge tht the it for
Civil Righs conld no achiev (1 gonl without 30 end 1o the War in Vietaam. - Whil aihers 1 b
genersion faled 10 undertand. Lee Rayson ideified wit he Pesce movement carly on. 1o 1965, when
Lee was o dleguie (0 the Chicago Democrac. Convention, he fodght Sgaint the war both on (e
‘convenion foor and in pescefl protets ousde the conveion, where he was amoag thossands (ear
s by the Nationsl Cusrd. I 1971 Lee had the honor of waveling 1o France 1 3 dekgn fo s
s ot Fons P Talko. seckng. 1 hlp end the wor.

L Rayson mastained hisconcem and awreness o imernaional issues troaghoet his e 1n 1987,
o the age o 63, be oned a deegaion o Hlinois lawmakers and nciists 1 the spovertshed, wartom
natons of Hondurss and Nicsragua. The delegaion stucied the role of linois Navonal Guard oops
etiled 1o Hondurs, andlooked it the deaths of two young Winois guarésmen. [n Nicaragu. Rayscn
eamed fiband of the devassing ffcts of the prolonged Conra war on the people, snd espcially the
chidren o thtland.

‘Somchar. Leland Rayson sccomplshed ll o this and moch more while atering a huge family, snd
shepherdin. with wfe Barbars.al scven of thci childien through th turbsient 60's snd 70s. Once e
chidren were grown. Lee Rayion rired and bought 3 bome with Barbars in Pl St Luce, F. He
continued 10 csjoylsing. siig.teai,cards, s good arement, rootag for his beloved Whi Sox. Bears
0 Bulls, and spcding time wih his eve-growing family throwghout i eicenment years. anl
ook him from as.

£

Lelund Royson tught us 1 take 3 big bit out of i, and that quiting is ot 3 opton. His vision,
tcgaty and courage renmain 3 insption 0 v Sll._This legacy of devoson to boh famly and socl
Jusie 1 oo caried on by s children and grandchideen, who oficn dedicae het effots 10 promotg
Change on labor, women'srghts,cvil ights, amiwar and enironmentalissucs.

Letand . Rayson 3nd iy, 1962

ight, back o) Ann, Jmes, Lland, Barbara, Thomas,John (iront) Anthony. Wiiam, Lee

10 addiion o e siblngs - Glendon, of Bakimor, Debwya. of Gradenon, Fl sl Rohass Raty. of
(Chicago — Leland Rayson i suvived by his wile, Babars, who fvs i PL. St Lucie, snd seven chiden,
15 grandchidres, and on gt randdsughir.

Lee Rayson's favorkte chanty s eceiving donaions in his name. Contact the Soutbern Poverty Law
Cenier at 400 Washingion Ave Montgomery, Al 6108

13

Lee and Barbars Rayson were maried or 56 years,fom (944 2001

Lec Rayom emoing by prex
randdnughte. Alexix Maric Jones, of s
o oSt Lucte in Apei, 2000

Requiem for a Loving Heart
Fumily Reflections in Honor of Leland Homer Rayson
(August 23, 1921 - January 8, 2001)

Delwyn Rayson:

I'm trying to remember the high points in our experiences with Lee.
He was a very intense kind of young man, when we were young. He
participated in all of our athletic endeavors - even though he couldn’t
throw from shortstop to first base! He had to throw to Glenn, who was
the older brother and pitcher and he relayed on to first.

But, he insisted on being a part of our life together in Oak Park and
he stayed with us through all the years of education which followed.
After those early years, we went our ways. Glenn, the oldest of the
brothers and myself went to.the University of Rochester. Lee started at
lowa College, I believe, but he insisted on joining us at Rochester and it
was not long before he did follow. There he got to know well his wife-to-
be Barbara, who came to Rochester from Oak Park.

The days at Rochester are not particularly distinguished, but toward
the end of his career thore, the skies darkened and the reality of war in
Europe became apparent. He went into training - Midshipman training
- which led him to New York and a special course, prepuring himsell to
be an officer in Landing Ships Tank, a very necessary and dangerous
part of the Navy. It was there, that when possible, family members saw
him briefly. | remember when he shipped from there and he completed
that training. He was met in the southern United States by Barbara
and my mother, before he shipped off to the Pacific.

Before that time, however, there was a happy interlude at a nearby
place, Fort Pierce, where Barbara camé and they were married and had
happy days - before she had to go back to Ouk Park and he went on.

He had a tough time on an LST in the Pacific. Went through some
heavy actions, especially at Okinawa. I don't remember all the details
of his experience there, but I know he was faithful to his job and had to
survive a very unorganized and angry Captain, who took his foelings
out on the crew quite often.

But he survived it and came home to us after that long and painful
stint and he went to the University of Rochester, where Glenn was in
grad school and I was inishing up. He graduated and went back and
lived with Barbara and began the nurture of a large family of one lovely
girl and six irrascible boys.

It all worked out, although it didn't seem possible and they lived
together in Tinley Park. He went through many happy experiences
with his family and with the rest of us as well.

1 don't know much about events in those days. We were all
concerned about our own families. But he was faithful to the end, to
‘himself, and to Barbara and to the kids. He was a guy, who as a lawyer
believed in justice and peace and worked hard to move those values
along. He went for several years to the Illinois State Legislature and
worked on bills to that end and accomplished more than anyone thought
e would accomplish.

At the end of his career, he continued to work at his law office in
Tinley until, the years went by, as happens to allof us. Ourfamilies
and ourselves grew older until his inal days, when he was hit hard with
cancer and struggled with it and finally succumbed to it.

He was a dear brother and a dear friend. He was faitbful in the
church. He didn't think of himself as a saint, but there are many
* unacknowledged saints ia the world. I think he was one of them and 80
| I think of that line from that hymn:

For all the saints

Who from their labors rest
Whom thee by faith

Before the world confessed
The name will be for Jesus
Forever blessed.
Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Ann Rayson:

1just wanted to briefly talk about the importance of my father in my
life and it really focuses on the Civil Rights Movement. When I was in
‘high school, he took some of us on various marches. He took me in 1964
to Pittsburgh, where we marched before the National Methodist Church
caucus to try to get the church to integrate and adopt a civil rights

platform. That failed, but I remember marching all night with other
people from around the country.

Then in 1967, he took some of us up to Milwaukee to march with
Father Groppi and Dick Gregory for open housing. Also, he took us to
Operation Breadbasket in Chicago - South Chicago - where we saw the
young Jesse Jackson starting his political career.

There were other experiences I had in college, marching with Martin
Luther King in Boston, for open housing. I never went to the South.
with my father, but I think his work with the Civil Righta Movement in
various places involving integrating white churchea in Jackson,
Missinnippi for example, and working with Black college students in
Tupelo and Jnckson, had a huge influence on my life later, when I
became a professor of African-American literature.

I's been a continual challenge that [ think is important to face
because we come from a position of middle cluss, upper middle cluss
really, white privilege and we should never forget that we're just hure
by chance. We need to constantly be uware of that and be uware of the
injustice that is everywhere around us.

So, I really thank my father for giving me this kind of upbringing
and awareness of the larger world.

John:

T want to thank everyone for coming. Its comforting to be among so
‘many family members and friends. And I'm particularly moved by the
presence of my colleague of ten years, when [ was in the Florida
legislature, and now he's State Senator, Ken Pruitt, from Port St. Lucie.
‘Thankyou for being here.

1¢'s a difficult thing and it was hard for me to try and think of what I
might say. So, if you'llindulge me, I just put down a few reflections of a
child:

“Rope belts, Indian guides and walleyes. Bascball with cards, bridge
and blackjack. “Tonnis anyone? Don't fall, the water's cold!

Who took us there?

Invasions, demonstrations, causes. Leyte, the Lingayen Gulf,

Okinas Mississippi, Milwaukee, Chicago. Open housing, wom
rights, Vietnam, migrant's rights, the Paris Peace talks, Nicaragun

Who will lead us?

The Chicago Foreign Relations Council, the Goodman Theatre, Pete
Seeger concerts, books! - lots of books!

Who will read them?

Barbara, Bobbie, Bobs - his constant, his partner, his wife, who loved
her.

Mikva was there and Sidney Yates and Adlai I11. Kennedy, Camelot,
Tinley Park.

Who fought the fight?

There were four of us in the firm - all worthy, but one leader, one
teacher, one father.

‘The Sox, the B he Bulls., “There's Little Louie! There goes
Sweetness! Michael is soaring!

He, we are there.

Husband, father, grandfather, friend, where are

You are all around, in, about us."

Anthony:
I'd like to read a statement [ composed two days ago. It's called:
Dad Livew in All of Us
1

W all love Dad for the specinl way he trented each and every one of
us. Great family adventures invariably had Dad in the thick of things.
He enlivened all the fun. The way he carried himself with other people
taugcht us how to be righteous and moral and principled and tough.

He let kids run around, scream and yell, have fun and go nuts. He
played along right there with us. But, when something had to be said or
done, he made no bones about it and dida't fool around.

We all emulate him in the way we live our lives. We have a unique
ability, resolve and confidence in the way we feel what we must do and
how that should be done. Dad nceomplished a helluva lot, but he
absolutely refused to compromise his belicfs. He was a fearless,
articulate, eloquent crusader for social justice amidst a sea of bigotry
and ignorance.

He worked hard, played hard and took care of us - especially when
we nceded him the most!

Dad now lives in all of us and I say we use that streagth to become
more compassionate, more caring and more committed to advocate our
belicfs in our own way, that in our hearts we know to be the right thing
w0 do.

Goodbye, Dad! Thanks for everything.

William:

1 didn't prepare remarks, but I've been talking about what it was like
(o grow up with Lee Rayson for a Dad, with my brothers and the people
here.

You know, we all went through the teenager phase (the sixties) and it
was o tough time for families all over the country. The war in Vietnam
was exploding. You couldn't avoid thinking about it and learning about
it. The more we learned about it, the more we realized that something
very wrong was taking place.

Like Ann said, my Dad got us involved in civil rights. I went on the
trip to Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.

1 remember I was just eleven. He packed us up in a car. Martin
Luther King was marching in Cicero. There were racists there -
swastikas. They were throwing things. 1t was just incredible and scary.
But I saw that something really important was happening.

The next year, we all went to Soldier Field. Martin Luther King
spoke at Soldier Field and it was just incredible! I's never been to
Soldier Field and it was just packed!

T ot to be so proud of my Dad for having that kind of courage.
Because when you talked in school. the other kids, they didn't know
anything about it. They were just bigotted and they got that bigotry
from their parents, you know?
torod, when I entered that rebollious stage. I'm lookin' | §
's maybe 1967, you know, we got roally against the war

in Viotanm, We criticized Dad for being involved with the Democratic
Party, which was ill led by LBJ. But it was just so bard to try to stay
nhead of him bocause he rapidly realized whit wns wron in Viotnam.

‘Even s a delegate to the Domocratic Convention, he joined us out
there in the stroets in a peaceful demonstration. We got teargassed
together, which was something really scary for both of us. And then in
1971, he went to the Paris Peace talks.

So, in the other litle ways we found o rebel, ub, you live and learn
and find that Dad was right in all those things.

‘Now we find ourselves - not rying to be liko him, but bein"like him
without trying to. We got something on our mind and someone's
bothering us about something, we go, "Eh - eh - eh - ¢h - ch - eh!” And,
like Toay said, let the kids have fus, up until a certain point and then
say, “OK! That's it

‘He bad tremendous courage and he was so far ahead of his time.
Unfortunately, many of the issues he fought for are atill buring issues
today. Capital punishment, if anythin, is worse ow! It's rampaat in
this country and in this state.

Civil rights, voting rights! The last election shows us that Black
people are siill being denied the right to vote in so many way's. There's
0 much work still to be done, aod I'm confident that those of us bere
that understood his example, can pick up the slack and carry forward.

Thomas:

1 was real little when those things were going on in the sixties, but in
our family we were so intuned to it! Even as a little fourth grader in
1968, I was so proud of my father nnd my whole family and what was
going on in the Vietnam War and how it affected everybody.

From the very beginning, my Dad was such a good-hearted person. in
the very simple way of loving and respecting all things. He taught us
when we were kids examples like taking bugs and spiders outside and
gently putting them in the yard and letting them go instead of killing
them. Try and catch a fly and take it outside. “Il give you a dollar if
you do it!” We loved that! I was always looking all over the house for
crickets and spiders.

And then! Things like that stick with you. Anytime I saw a cricket
or a spider, you take it outside. And thered that basic teaching to
respect all life. Everything is precious - evervone! - and to give to others
who need it the most.

He never said it and he was never very religious, but it was basic
fundamental followings of Christ - to give to the poor, to belp, to forgive
- 1o love. Those basic things he did everyday in every way.

19
He'd come up - sometimes we'd go to his office and hang out and get &
Coke - just a fun place. They had a water cooler there, air
conditioning... It was pretty nice. People would come into the office,
you know, older people, Black people, would come in and say, “Your
futher..!" They'd start crying. “Your father has done so much for m
He's done so much! [ love that man!”

People would do that just out of the blue. They dida't know who [
was. They could tell there was family resemblance. So many times in
my life they would come up to me and say what a great man he is, and
his tremendous feelings for his family. He was a great father!

One thing that everybody knows who knows my Dad, is he was a
goofball. He was one of the funniest persons I've ever met in my life. |
don't think anyone could make me laugh - maybe Johnny - the way he
does. He loved to laugh.

I have many fond memories when [ was a teenager. Everyone was
out of the house and I was busically alone in a big house and Dad and [
got to spend a lot of time together.

He'd come home and we'd shoot pool. We'd play chess and we'd
wateh Monty Python. We had a renl bond then and it was really a nice
time because it's a tough time for a young man, a fifteen - sixteen year
old boy. We spent a lot of quiet time together and had some great
memories.

We used to play pool and he'd take out his hankerchie, usually he'd
make a stupid mistake sooner or luter, throwing the eightball or
whatever. 1fyou were ahead shootin’ the eightball, her'd go like this -
right in front of the pocket, when you were trying to get it in. It would
definitely mess with your mind and it was great! It taught you
sportsmanship.

He taught so many things without sayin’ it. We played chess and if
you'd get him in checkmate, he'd say, “Ah, but what about the 2" He'd
pick up - the rule was if you could pick up the king with one finger and
‘move it anywhere on the board and drop it from an inch, without falling,
that's a free move. We adopted that rule in chess and [ still use that
rule.

He used to love Monty Python and the Three Stooges. He knew how
{0 laugh and he knew how to live. He told me, many many times, “Hold
fast to the spirit of youth.” 1 live by that and he always did.

And, uh, you know, he loved the way it all happencd - even though it
was crazy. There was a lot of strife in our family. Things got kinda
crazy. You know when I asked him, “Would you do it all over again?"
He said, “Without hesitation!"

He loved Ma very much. Couldn't live without her! And, another
thing, it’s another lesson. I think we all know. Wo were there - what a
fighter he is! My Dad just gave us another gift - right at the end, to
never give up. And, he fought and he struggled. He wanted to be there.
And he was there.

It gives me a lot of inner strength. Anytime, hard times, hardship -
any of us - that fight that “Keep goin’ on! You can do it! Keep sluggin'"
That's an amazing skill and talent that he had to do - and gave - even to
the very end.

I don't know how many people could have fought harder than he did
with this cancer. He was a trooper from the very beginning and I miss
very much and he really lives on. 1 know that!

Miguel:

T'm nervous right now, being up on stage for the first time. I didn't
know too much about my Grandpa until I read what was written by my
Dad (William) yesterday. [ wish he was still alive so I could say how
proud I am for what he's done for all these people.

It really was painful just to see him laying down there like that. T
couldn't deal with it.

1 don't know what to say. All T know is that I love him dearly. He's
gone, you know? So, we just gotta deal with it. Ho's in a better place
now, vou know? He's in Heaven. That's where he belongs - with Martin
Luther King and everybody. I told my Dad, I dream of him sitting down
with Martin Luther King and JFK and everyone like that, you know,
and just partyin’ and stuf, in Heaven.

At first, T wanted to be a rap star on stage and look at me now, on
stage. It's a good feelin'. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for his
death and I love him so much and I wish he was still livin"_ That's all
I've got to say.

Leland Rayson in 1972
zl

Barbara:
Since Lee died, I've had a hymn running through my mind

constantly, and it’s a missionary hymn and | was trying to understand
why it was this particular hymn. You all know it.

We've a story to tell to the nations

That shall turn their hearts to the right
Astory of truth and mercy

Astory of peace and light.

‘And the darkness shall turn to dawning
Dawning to noonday bright

And God's great kingdom

Shall Come on Earth

The kingdom of love and light

The kingdom of love and light.

So, it's a great hymn but why was that of all the great hymns the one
that I was remembering?

1 finally Ggured it out! You dont have to be in the church. You don't
have to be a pastor to be a missionary. Sainthood? Well, I was the wife!
I'm not sure. But he was certainly a missionary and devoted his life as
his children and grandchildren have told you, to the causes in which he
believed, which were truth and justice and fighting prejudice and peace
and mercy. And he was a blessing to all of us.

1 was privileged to be his wife - even when he let the dogs do
anything they wanted to! He could never deny children or dogs - and at
times it was a little much for me.

1 recognize what a wonderful, free and loving spirit he had - and how
lucky I was to be his wife.

Truly one of a kind

H
]
g

22
Leland Rayson, 79, ~
political patriarch

BY ELENA CABRAL
ecabral@heraid.com

Leland H. Rayson, who
served six terms in the Illinois
House of Rep-
resentatives
and later saw
his son John
become a Flor-
ida lawmalker,
representing
Pompano
Beach, died of
ancer Monday
in Stuart, Fla. RAYSON

He was 79.

An advocate of civil
ho took his children to march
with the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr. in Chicago in the 19605,
Rayson was an advocate of
women’s rights and workers'
rights, as well as a staunch
opponent of capital punish-
ment, according to his family.

“His was an amazing lif
really, the biggest influence of
my life,” said John Rayson, who
has practiced law in Fort Lau-
derdale since term limits ended
his tenure in the Florida House
last year.

In the 19605, Leland Rayson
sponsored bills to legalize abor
tiomand to reform drug laws he
considered too severe, such as
felony penalties for. marijuana
users, his son said. Leland Ray-
son introduced legislation to
reduce vehicle emissions and
to conserve water and fought

for passage of Illinois’ first
crime victims compensation
law, John Rayson said.

Leland Rayson, who was
born in Oak Park, Il served in
the Navy during World War I,
taking part in amphibious
assaults in the Philippines and
in the invasion of Okinawa; he
retired from the Naval Reserve
with the rank of licutenant
commander.

Rayson earncd a law degree
from Northwestern before
entering politics as a Democrat.
u Following an unsuccessful
bid for Congress, Rayson won a
seat in the lllinois House of
Representatives in 1964, serv-
ing until 1977.

In addition to three siblings
— Delwin of Bradenton, Fla;
Glendon, of Baltimore; and
Rohana Rattay of Chicago -
Leland Rayson is survived by
his wife, Barbara, who lives in
Port St. Lucie, and seven chil-
dren: Ann, of Honolulu; John, of
Pompano Beach; William, of
Pembroke Pines; Anthony, of
Monee, Ill; Leland, of Oak For-
Thomas, of Menasha,
and James,of Manhattan,

Rayson had IS grandchildren
and one great-granddaughter.

Services for Rayson will be
at 1 pm. Friday at the First
Presybterian Church of Port St.
Lucie.
a1
Longtime Southland state Rep. Rayson, 79, dies

Wednesday, January 16, 2001

By Steve Metach
Staff Writer

Leland H_ Rayson, 79, who served sixterms repeeseating (he Southlands 9th Disrict i
the llinois House of Represeatatives, died Monday ata bospial in S, Fla.

Mr. Rayson, who most recently lived ia Port St Lucie, Fa, had been sullring from
‘melanoma, his son, John Rayson of Pompano Beach, Fia, said Tuesday.

A funers service il be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church of Port
St Lucie.

'Ms. Rayson, formerly of Tinley Park, served in the Houss from 1965 to 1977.

M Rayson, a Democrat, was 8 proponent o civilrights, women'srights, end the
environmen, and also took a stand opposiag the Vietaam Was. Whe the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King ., marched in Chicago to support housing for blacks, Rayson and
his family were thre, oo,

“He taught us 10 stand for what was right and that therc's worthin every human being.”
Jokn Rayson, an attorey and former Florida stte legisletor, ssid

“He tught us 10 take 8 stand and do what' right, o 0ppose oppeession and racism, and
other things that diminish people,” he said.

'Ms. Rayson sponsored bils to legalize sbortion and reform what he considered
draconian drug laws.

An avid conservationist, b introduced egislation o reduce vehicie emissions snd
‘conserve watet. He also introduced and saw the passage of the frst crime victim
‘compensation legistation i the sate.

Mr. Rayson was bor on Aug. 23, 1921, in Ouk Park. His family moved to Springfield,
Mass, in 1931, and to Pitsford, N.Y., in 1934.

‘While stendiag the Usiversity of Rocheste, b enlised in the Navy's V-12 program and

He married Barbara Chandlerin 1944, She was at his side when he died.

Mr Rayson served inthe Pacific during World War Il and led two landings in the
Philippines and in the invasion of Okinawa.

‘After the war, he completed his undergraduate’s degree at Rochester and laer graduated
from the Northwestern University Law School. His family moved to Tiney Park in
1949, The law practics he started sl bearshis name. He also was co-pubisher of the
‘Worth-Palos Reparter
1 the 1950, he was township sssr, polce magistrteand justice o he peace >*

before wnsuccessfully running for Congres in 1958, He retired from th Ilinois House
in1977.

‘Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki called Rayson “the white-haired geatleman of Tinley
Park who was very libera in his ideas.”

“He represented our community wellin Springfield, and he'l be missed by many of his
fieads here in Tinley Park,” Zabrock said.

‘Afterhis retiremeat, Mr. Rayson and his wife moved to Florida. He played teanis until
he was 76, and enjoyed following the White Sox, Bears and Bull, his son said.

“He called his own shots i lfe. He did it his way," John Rayson said.

Other survivors include five soos, William Rayson of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Anthony
Rayson of Moaee, Leland Rayson of Oak Forest, Thomas Rayson of Menasha, Wi, and
James Rayson of Manhattan, [IL.; one daughter, Ann Bess of Hawai; two brothers,
Delwyn Rayson of Brandenton, Fla., and Glendon Rayson of Baltimore; one sisicr,
Rohana Rattay of Chicago; 15 grandchildren; and one great-granddsughter.

LeJand H. Rayson
Leland H. Rayson, 79, lost 3 co-pubished the weekly Pals-
hard fought battle with cancer Worth vk 3
on January 8. Exestaie resl esote brokes Ho served at
Representaive, a lawyer, and imes 35 the Bremen Township

women's rights, civil
and enviroamental issues,

Port St Lucie, Fl. in 1988 In addi-
tion tohis wife, hes survived by a
daughter, Aan: six sons. John,
‘Wiliam, Authony, Leland Harvey,
D Thomas and James: two broth-
. Dr. Glendon and Delwyn: a
sister, Rohana Ratay: 15 grand-
children: and a great-granddaugh-
.

A memorial servce was held on
Friday, Jan 12, in Pon St Lucie,
during which Rayson, who retired
Rayson opened alaw pracice,and as a Licutenant Commander from
he and Barb nised seven chikiren the Navy Reserve, received full

While practiciog law in the ~miliary hovors for his years of
southwest. suburbs, Rayson also service to his country.

26
Leland Rayson, state rep
fought for liberal ideals

ausmacy 12, 2000
DY AGBERT C. KERGUTH STAFT BERORTER

During Ms six terms in the Tilinols Houss of Representatives, Laland . Bayion
as agarded as-an independent-ainded lesisiator uho vasn't afrald to buck the
Deaccratic achine as he pushed his often-coscroversial agends.

He vasn't alvays successful in backing leglslatios that touched on lesuss Fanging
Eron gun contral and Abortion to vorkers’ Eighis and Sactinihailmation

SarTylina BuE M. Raveon, who vas al1ied VIEh other bemcratic iibsrals such s
Abner Kikva, Boul Sion and farold Katt when he S0Eved in the Geoetal Aesesbly
£508 1965 T 1977, stayed true to his bellets, feally members said.

iva, M. Rayson 1ived in the south suburbs uncil catiring to
6. Mo dled Monday in Stuart, Fia., of cancer. e was 15

An oak park
Florida in 1

“Ho vas kind of s maverick,
Anto politice: “He was & Drogressive libecal Descers
Ealationship Uith AAC was hen the Daley Rachine:

“Ho had his oun mind, end in many respacts be vas Sore libersl than the Nachiss
Democrats. He'd gt inte troubia, but he ever Backed down.

said his son Joha C. Rayson, who folloued his father
"ana"he had kind of s odd

Daspite Ke. Rayson's ditfarences vith sany collesques, be vas Tespected because
FRves Lvecy adencing pareon,” Kats sald:

One of Ne. Raysen's successtul bills provided fissncial cospensation for victias
of criaes. Ne'slso supported, unsuccasefully, *ellainating 411 pensities and
ooal ring aarijuans,” Kats Fecalied.

Mikwa noted that M. Rayson's lesislative distric, which covered south suburbe
ouch as Tinley Park, wesa't considered s traditionslly Liberel ares: But he vas

e-elactad badaise ‘pachle APpEeciated Mis LACSGELCY And honesty, shd he Baver
Rried T ool aavbody about whare he was coaing fran.

K. Bayson's strength late an tepcassion on s childean. e Bayscn broueac thee
Co'aarch for £air Rousing iCh the Rav. Narcin Luther King Jf. in the 19608, ana
Ne."Nayeon 4180 aarched fof CLVLL FLghis in the Deep South, uhece he bacriended
Atiornay Willien Kuntaies.

“He vas & resartable cosbination of dedicated, hard-working libecal who vas
unovacving in working and Fighcing for what be belisved, and he was Coca
Uncacriptible, " said Barsara, He. e 72 o€ 36 years. “But he vas
Very un paraon who childcen and dogs sdored.

223 U.s. naval otfices, Wr. Reyson belped operate Landing craft ducing World Wt
I saphibiovs assaulta. Ne Fatited ron the U.5. Neval Reserves a1 & |iwutenanc
consander. Despite Ais MII1CeEy backprousd: ha tas an safly opponsat of the
Vistnan Wi and traveled o Pacis in the early 19708 for pasce Taike.

Ke. Rayson had & law degre feon Northuwestern Universicy and vas 4 avid White Sox
I8

Othar survivors inclode s daughter, Az Bess; sons Willis, Mthosy, Thomas, Jemes
and Laland; two brothers; a sister) 15 grandehiidren, 4nd one grest-grandehild.
orvices sre scheduled today in Florida'

r—

Wartime Experience Remembered

by Leland H. Rayson