Donna Claire Martens

Donna Claire Martens, 71, a native Texan passed away peacefully at the James L. West Center in Ft. Worth, Texas, Monday, April 15, 2013 after an extended illness with cancer. She was born Donna Claire Farmer in Fort Worth, Texas on October 22, 1941 to John Henry Farmer and Martha Jane Creely-Farmer. She was the youngest of six children. She attended school in Fort Worth, Texas. She married Harold Boyles Jr. of Granite City, Illinois from 1957-1963. To this union two sons were born, Jimmy & Barry Boyles.She married Charles Dahn of Fort Worth, Texas from 1968-1972. To this union one daughter was born, Cynthia Dahn.She married James L. Martens of Peoria, Illinois from 1980 - present. Donna led a simple but full life. She believed in the power of positive thinking. She was a homemaker and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She took pleasure in holidays and celebrating family members? birthdays. She enjoyed local musicals, plays, Elvis impersonators, and reading. Donna liked to dance, walk in the sunshine, and visit with friends and family. All conversations with her started and ended with a hug. She never knew a stranger. Donna?s favorite season was spring because of the blooming flowers and she loved the fall colors. She was passionate about growing flowers in her yard. Tending to her flowers and plants was one of her favorite pastimes. Preceding her in death are her parents, an infant brother, and two sisters: Juanita Schaffer (Ft. Worth, TX.) and Laverne Logsdon (Plano, TX.) Those left to celebrate her life: Her husband of 33 years, James Martens; three children, Jimmy Boyles (Dana Boyles), Barry Boyles (Dasa Etheridge), Cynthia (Dahn) Raley (Todd Raley); three step-children ? Jennifer Martens-Lambertson (Lee Lambertson), Charles Martens (Debbie Martens), Wiliam Martens (Stacey Martens); five grandchildren - Chelsey (Boyles) Youman (Daniel Youman), Whitney (Boyles) Phipps (Ryan Phipps), Christina Raley, Cassandra Raley, and Matthew Raley; three step-grandchildren ? Kimberlee Hamm, Katelyn Malkemus, Diana Lambertson; two sisters ? Shirley (Farmer) DeLuca, Beverly (Farmer) Kunkle (Fritz Kunkle), and many nephews, nieces, and friends. Celebration of Life: 10 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2013 at Guerrero-Dean Funeral Home, 500 E. Main St., Grand Prairie, TX., 75050. Private family burial will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery,

Donna Claire Martens

October 22, 1941 - April 15, 2013