Martha (Sample) Hargis – Sesser, IL

Martha (Sample) Hargis, 84, of Sesser, passed away on Friday January 24, 2020 at 9:18 AM at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon, IL.

She was born on November 21, 1935 in Sesser, IL to Mitchell and Irene (Kirkpatrick) Sample. She married her high school sweetheart, Danny Hargis, on August 22, 1953. They shared fifty years of marriage prior to his death on October 16, 2003.

She retired from Orpack-Stone Corporation of Herrin on December 31, 2000, where she held the position of Human Resource Manager. Martha started her working career as an executive secretary, moving into administration in the purchasing and human resource fields.

Having had no children of her own, Martha’s thirteen nieces and nephews, as well as her great nieces and great nephews, held a special place in her heart and were a big part of her life. Martha was also “Aunt Martha” to many friends and their families. Martha enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, as well as bowling and playing poker with her family and her poker buddies.

She is survived by one sister Joan Earnheart of Sesser; two sisters-in-laws Joan Sample of Elgin, IL and Marie Sample of Sesser; as well as two brothers Larry (Mona) Sample of Sesser and Danny (Sharon) Sample of Sesser.

Also surviving are nieces and nephews Mitch, Christa, Ed, Mike, Brad, Mark, Andrew, Amy, Greg, Anna, Gena, Tim and Cynthia, along with their spouses and children. She is also survived by three aunts, one uncle, cousins and a multitude of friends.
Martha is also survived by her extended family Steve and Becky, Jeff and Kim, and Sierrra and Nathan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers Roy Sample and Bill Sample, brother-in-law Bill Earnheart, her in-laws Sam and Margie Hargis. She was also preceded in death by the love of her life, Jack Fornear.

As per her wishes, she will be cremated. A time of gathering for family and friends to celebrate Martha’s life will be on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, IL with a memorial service at 2:00 PM at the funeral home.

Burial will follow at Horse Prairie Cemetery in Sesser.

For those who prefer, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to St Jude Children’s Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com