Donna Jean Martin of Sherman, Illinois passed from this life on to her eternal home on November 19, 2020 in Springfield, Illinois. She was born on May 31, 1932, the daughter of Mary Lucille Johnson, in Sherman, Illinois. Donna was the one of two children, yet she was blessed with a large extended family with many relatives to share her childhood. She attended Williamsville High School where she exceled in basketball, played the cymbals and drums in the band, and enjoyed participating in the Drama program. It was during this time that she met Ken Martin who she married and together they had four sons and one daughter.
Donna was known by her friends as outgoing and caring, traits that she magnified throughout her life. When she became a single mother caring for five children, she went to work as a Unit Clerk in a local hospital transcribing the doctor’s orders which was not an easy task! Donna spent a great deal of her time on the Burn Unit at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL where her love and compassion really exhibited itself with those that needed it the most. Yet she always had time for her children and all their activities. We all knew how much she loved and cared for each of us.
As a family, job changes or transfers required her to pack up and move the household from one state to another year after year until settling in Amarillo, Texas in 1967 where she stayed several years until coming back home to Sherman. Donna loved this country and was proud to send three of her sons and two of her grandsons off to serve in this country’s Armed Services to protect those strong beliefs.
Donna loved her Dallas Cowboys, watching old movies and tv series and visiting with her children and grandchildren whenever she could. She was a good cook and many of her favorite recipes have been passed down throughout the family.
Donna was a fighter. Her health issues continued to increase throughout these last years. However with the loving care of her daughter overseeing to her daily care, weekly doctor visits and monthly hospital stays, she never gave up until there was nothing else that could be done and even then demanded to be taken back to her home in Sherman. And she got her wish!
She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Hart; her grandparents, Kate and Robert Johnson as well as several uncles and aunts. Donna’s legacy will continue on through her sons, Ken & Deanna Martin of Bonham Texas, Bob & Treva Martin of Ceres, CA, Mike & Cindy Martin of Houston, TX and Mark & Kathy Martin of Gilbert, AZ; and her daughter, Kristi Martin of Sherman, IL as well from her beloved grandchildren including her “adopted granddaughter” Emmalee Cooper and her family of Williamsville, IL, and great-grandchildren as well as many nephews and nieces.
Donna was loved while she was with us here in this life and will continued to be loved by her family and friends through time and all eternity. She will be dearly missed.
Her family would like to extent their most sincere appreciation to those Health Care Professionals that treated her with the upmost care, compassion, and dignity. We would like to recognize particularly the Admitting and One C Staff and Nurses at MMC; all the doctors, nurses, and staff in the Interventional Radiology at MMC especially Dr. Robert Burke, and her Family Physician, Dr. Randy Western.
We cannot begin to express our thankfulness to her “Special Doctor”, Dr. Sohail Siddique who’s life saving surgery extended her life many years as well as becoming a best friend to her, Kristi and our family. We will never forget the time, effort and true caring he gave to our Mom. May you all be blessed and kept safe and know that you are ALL in our thoughts and prayers.
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