Roberta Ruth Martin, 88 of Gibson City, died at 1:44 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells Street, Paxton with Mr. Myles Reck officiating.  Burial will follow in Mackinaw Twp. Cemetery, Mackinaw.

Visitation will be Thursday one hour before the funeral service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Roberta was born July 16, 1936, in Peoria the daughter of Robert I. and Ruth M. Sheppard Cross.  She married Alan D. Allred on June 5, 1955. She married Donald W. Martin, Sr. on August 3, 1979, at the Paxton Baptist Church.  He survives.

Along with her husband, Don, she is survived by one daughter, Pat (Mark) Hofbauer, two grandsons Justin DeAtley and Jacob Hofbauer, step children, James Martin, Donald Martin, Jr., John Martin, Mark (Leanna) Martin and step-grandchildren Ashlee Martin and Tati McClure Martin and many nieces  and  nephews and friends from Texas and from the Rantoul Latter Day Saints Church and the Red Hat Society in  Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two daughters, Julie Allred and Debra DeAtley and grandson Christopher Hofbauer.

Roberta graduated from Deer-Creek Mackinaw High School in 1954.  She worked for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, ECC of Paxton and Switchcraft/Sorenson of Paxton.  Before moving to Gibson City in 2011, she lived in Mackinaw, Paxton, Loda and Texas.

She collected many things:  redbirds, state spoons, Elvis memorabilia, Limoge trinket boxes, paintings by Thomas Kincaid.  She loved nature, especially going to the top of Mt. Scott in Oklahoma with friends.  She met no strangers and was a "talker" just like her dad.  She was a hugger (her mother always said, "it doesn't cost anything to give a hug, and you get one back in return!")

Roberta was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Rantoul.  She enjoyed belonging to the Red Hat Society in Wichita Falls, Texas.  She loved spending time with family, growing flowers in her yard, jewelry and animals (especially dogs).  But most of all, she loved her wonderful, sweet husband of 46 years, Don.

Memorials may be made to her church or a Humane Society.  Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.