Donald Martin

Donald E. Martin

Age 61 of Diamond and formerly Wilmington, passed away Tuesday May 18, 2010 at Morris Hospital.

Born July 28, 1948 in Wilmington, Donald was a son of the late Ora and Jewel Lybarger-Brown. He was raised and educated in Wilmington and worked for Diamond International in Wilmington prior to gaining employment with Durkee Foods. Don also drove a school bus, was contracted as a utility locator and drove a gravel truck for Deb's Way, Inc. He was known for his love of dirt track stock car racing, and spent a great deal of time at the Kankakee Speedway. Don was also a person who could be always counted on for help, and this was lastly demonstrated with his corneal donation to the Illinois Eye Bank.

Survivors include two children: Dodgetta (Charles) Simpson of Wilmington and Donald (Shawna) Brantley of Piper City, Illinois; brothers: James Brown of Milledgeville, Illinois and William (Anne) Martin of Groveport, Ohio; sisters: Donna (George) Howard of Wilmington, Deloris Taylor of Mesa, Arizona, Alice (James) Sizemore of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Sharon Lange of Englewood, Ohio and Brenda (Gary) Calhoun of Godley; two grandchildren: Alyssa and Michael and his loving companion Marcie Warner and her daughter Sabrina of Diamond, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents: Ora and Jewel Brown; brothers: Joe Brown, Harold Brown, Ora Lee Brown, Richard Brown and Robert Brown; sisters: Mildred Jackson and Linda Nabors and his daughter Ruth Kapetanios.

Visitation will be held on Friday May 21, 2010 between the hours of 3:00PM and 8:00PM at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block North of Illinois Route 113) in Coal City. Funeral services will follow Saturday May 22nd at 1:30PM in the funeral home with Pastor Ron Taylor from Island City Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Wilmington.

Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Donald's memory to his family for their distribution to local charities of their choosing.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City. (815/634-2125)