UPDATED 1:21 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – A highly-respected figure in Peoria city government for a number of years has passed away.
Mary Haynes died late Friday night at her Peoria home. She was 79.
She was Peoria City and Town Clerk from 1985 to 2012, and her obituary with the Gary Dieters Funeral Home says she had “the best job in the world.”
But, Council Member Chuck Grayeb might slightly disagree.
“It might have been the perfect job for her, but it certainly wouldn’t be for many others, because of the precise exactitude that’s required being City Clerk and meeting deadlines, and filings, and you name it,” said Grayeb.
Haynes was perhaps best known for spearheading the “Rediscovering City Hall” project that brought the downtown landmark back to its original look.
“She respected history,” said Grayeb. “And Peoria, if it’s nothing else, it’s a great historical settlement of a city with rich history. She saw to it we had all the pictures of all the mayors on the wall, that we restore the council chambers and all the offices of the building.”
But, there’s also, as a part of her legacy, how Haynes always brought people together.
“She promoted social get-togethers that had nothing to do with the conduct of business involving elected officials in general: our county peers, people on the county board, and other elected officials in our city and in our county,” said Grayeb.
Grayeb says Haynes also brought that spirit inside the council horseshoe.
A funeral service for Haynes is Thursday, with a public visitation scheduled for Wednesday. Haynes is survived by a son and a daughter, among other family.
A link to the full obituary is below.
——————
PEORIA, Ill. – A highly-respected figure in Peoria city government for a number of years has passed away.
Mary Haynes died late Friday night at her Peoria home. She was 79.
She was Peoria City and Town Clerk from 1985 to 2012, and her obituary with the Gary Dieters Funeral Home says she had “the best job in the world.”
Haynes was known for spearheading the “Rediscovering City Hall” project that brought the downtown landmark back to its original look.
A funeral service for Haynes is Thursday, with a public visitation scheduled for Wednesday. Haynes is survived by a son and a daughter, among other family.
CLICK HERE to read the full obituary.
