Martha Jean Browning

Martha Jean Browning, age 93, of rural Chambersburg, IL passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021 at her home.  She was born on April 15, 1928 in Perry, IL to Herbert and Velma Robbins Ballard.  She married Russell ‘Howell’ Browning on May 20, 1945, and he preceded her in death on July 29, 2020.

Martha grew up in the Perry area.  She spent most of her life staying home raising children, tending to her husband, and helping with grandchildren.  She always enjoyed her grandchildren, especially when they made surprise visits to her house for coffee or hot cocoa.  She also loved when they came swimming at the pond or hunting on the farm.  She liked taking care of all the baby animals, and she loved her cat, Snow White, and her dog, Lucky.  She enjoyed playing the organ and collecting angels and dolls.  Martha was a caretaker to many, taking care of her parents, visiting residents in the nursing home, and praying with people in the hospital.   Faith was most important to her and she was a longtime member of the Chambersburg Christian Church.  Martha was a very sweet, kind, and loving woman and she will be missed dearly.

She is survived by her son, Robert (Cari) Browning of Perry, IL; four daughters, Winifred (Roger) Goodman of O’Fallon, IL, Jane (Steve) Coleman of Glasford, IL, Judy (Dennis) Douglas of Pittsfield, IL, and Mary Coultas of Pittsfield, IL; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-six great grandchildren with one on the way; one great great grandchild; two brothers, Kenneth (Lucy) Ballard of La Grange, MO and Robert (Isabel) Ballard of Roy, Utah; sisters, Georgia (Harold) Sill of Castle Hayne, NC and Marian Barrett of Dunlap, TN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as many in-laws.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Velma Ballard; husband, Russell ‘Howell’ Browning; daughter, Vivian Smith; granddaughter, Kaylynn Browning; daughter-in-law, Susan Browning; son-in-law, Roger Coultas; granddaughter-in-law, Robyn Smith; twin sister in infancy, Mary Jane; sisters, Evelyn Schaller, Maxine Schaffer, Eva Donhardt, and Thelma Kingery; and brothers, Herbert, Harold, Fredrick, Norris, Lawrence, Donald, Floyd, and Paul Ballard.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield.  Interment will follow at the Calhoun Cemetery near Chambersburg on the family farm.  Visitation will be held prior to the service on Monday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to be made to Calhoun Cemetery.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com.  Niebur Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

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