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 e Mol Sharkey was diagoosed with Mye gukemi,a vy ae form of e in 198, She o y crveled the conmry sccking st doccgis s empicl he e Xt b e hey wre ucky v Fingheof et fme s, ORI o o e e Mty 12 o Moty ot hev el drcamm,her Ty 0 e 10 ok g e e 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