Martha Elizabeth Witt

MARTHA ELIZABETH WITT 1925 - 2011 Martha Elizabeth Witt passed on to be with her Lord and eternal peace on June 24th , 2011 at Dixon Nursing Home and Rehabilitation, Dixon, Illinois. Martha was born to Thomas and Mary Lou ( Maness ) Gulley in 1925 at Mohawk, ( Hamblen Co ) Tennessee She had three sisters, Delia, Novella and Jean and two brothers, Nathan and Cecil. She married James Elbert Cantrell on the 6th of December, 1941 in Hamblen Co. Tenn. 3 daughters resulted in this union, Luella ( Chet ) Hatfield, of Garden Prairie. Patsy ( Russ ) Byrd, of Rochelle and Emmelina ( Brian ) Semmler, of Marcos Island, Florida James and Martha moved to Illinois in 1949 where James farmed and Martha was employed by the canning department at Del Monte Corporation in Rochelle They lived in rural Kirkland, until James’ retirement and then took residency in Rochelle where they remained for numerous years with James passing in March of 1985 Martha married her good friend Oscar Witt in 1989 in Rochelle, IL and they remained together until his death in 1994 Oscar was a welcome addition to her family and a blessing for Martha in her golden years, One would be hard pressed to find a more caring or honest couple. Martha was a Christian her entire life and today is with her Lord and Savior, Her pain and suffering no more, united once again with friends and family who passed before her, including the son she never got to raise, who have missed her as greatly as those she has left behind. Martha left eleven grand-children, Debra ( Mike ) Zierke, of Rockford, IL Marty ( Rebecca ) Hatfield, of Rockton, IL Jennifer ( Phil ) Beu, of Belvidere, IL James ( Julie ) Hatfield, of Cary, IL Jarett Hatfield, of Loves Park, IL David ( Amy ) Hatfield, of Rockford, IL Stephanie Debruyne, of Garden Prairie, IL Clayton ( Collette ) Smart, of Rochelle, IL Clifford ( Carrie ) Smart, of Rochelle, IL Shawn Semmler, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida Shane (Shelly ) Semmler, of Iowa 15 Great Grand Children and several Great-Great grand Children Predeceased by Parents, siblings, Delia, Nathan and Cecil Lord, Please hold her and comfort her, we loved her so much, but she belonged to you first Lord and we thank you for allowing us to share in her life, and for the family memories that we will always have, your Will be done Lord, on earth, as in Heaven, Amen Funeral service will be held 11:30 am Monday June 27, 2011 at Coulon-Lyons Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services 704 N. 6th Street, Rochelle, IL. 815-562-6872. Pastor David Reish will officiate. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until time of service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Trinity Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family.