Martha Elisabeth Hawkins Oslager, 78, of Mt. Vernon, died at 2:13 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2009, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

She was born on Nov. 10, 1930, in Ina, the daughter of Howard and Edna (Cook) Settle.

She married James K. Hawkins on June 15, 1946, in Bardwell, Ky., and he preceded her in death on Oct. 5, 1983.

She married Robert L. "Bob" Oslager on Nov. 16, 1990, in Mt. Vernon, and he survives.

Martha was a member of the Ina Free Will Baptist Church and attended with her husband the Mt. Vernon First Free Will Baptist Church.

In addition to her husband Bob, Martha is survived by one daughter, Shirley Johnston and husband Bruce of Ina; two sons, Rick Hawkins and wife Nikki and Jim Hawkins and wife Janice, both of Mt. Vernon; stepson, Kelvin Plemons and wife Shelia of Belleville; stepson-in-law, Lyman Parsell and wife Jamie of Ina; grandchildren, Matt Hawkins and wife Kristina of St. Louis, Brad Johnston of Ina, Kelly Downes and husband Andy of Woodlawn, Lacie Hawkins of Carterville and Jessa Hawkins of Mt. Vernon; step-grandchildren, David Plemons and wife Brooke of Champaign, Sarah Dyrud and husband Lars of Champaign, Hannah Greever and husband Tom of Aurora, Caleb Plemons and wife Jessica of Mt. Vernon, Laina, Kayla and Mylie Parsell of Ina, Erin Sappington of Belleville and Blake Schneider of St. Louis; great-granddaughter, Alli Downes; step-great-grandchildren, Trevin, Noah and Ellie Plemons, Josiah, Samuel and Norah Dyrud, and Millie, Silas and Isaac Greever; two brothers, Lynn Settle and wife Lana of McKinney, Texas, and Ed Settle and wife Linda of Benton; three sisters, Mary Pierce and husband Bud of Ina, Joyce Harpole and husband Jerry of Mt. Vernon and Janet Bennett of Thompsonville; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Marvin Settle; one sister, Millie Oslager; and by a stepdaughter, LaVonda Parsell.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Ina Free Will Baptist Church with Brother Brad Ryan and Brother David Shores officiating. Burial will be at the Kirk Cemetery in Ina. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Johnston Funeral Home in Ina and after 8 a.m. Tuesday until the funeral hour at the church.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: April 6, 2009