Donetta R. Martin (63) of Effingham

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Published on June 7 2016 3:35 pm

Donetta R. Martin, 63, of Effingham passed away in her home, surrounded by her children, on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham, with Dr. Joe Scheets officiating. There will be a lunch at the church following the service; all who loved her are welcome. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday at the church prior to the service. Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made in memory of Donetta to the Centenary United Methodist Church Handbell Fund, 203 E. Grove Ave., Effingham, IL, 62401, or to the donor’s choice.

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Donetta was born to Clarence and Marjorie (Scott) Well on December 7, 1952, in Tuscola, IL. She was raised in Humboldt, IL and was the salutatorian of her 1970 graduating class of Mattoon High School. She completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Eastern Illinois University and began her teaching career in 1974, though taking time off in the 1980’s to raise her children, who she considered her “greatest accomplishments.” Donetta recently completed 23 years as a Learning Disabilities teacher at Beecher City Jr./Sr. High School, also serving as the school’s Jr. High Scholar Bowl coach. She was a long-time member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham, playing the D and E above middle C bells in the church’s Handbell Choir since 1980.

Donetta is survived by her children, Dr. Jamie (Josh) Macklin of Columbus, OH and Jeff (Rochelle) Martin of Savoy, IL; 2 grandchildren, Lucy and Victoria Macklin of Columbus, OH; brother, C. David Well of Savoy, IL; sister, Diana (Robert) Swearingen of Champaign, IL; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Lynn Johnson of Effingham; many nieces and a nephew; and special cat friend Fluffy.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, Darrell Well, formerly of Villa Grove, IL.

The family wishes to thank HSHS St. Anthony’s Hospice of Southern Illinois and the teachers and staff of Beecher City Jr./Sr. High School for her care and support during the final weeks of her life.