Martha E. Kocher, 92, of Newton, passed away Friday, February 1, 2013, at Newton Rest Haven in Newton.   Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ste. Marie.

Martha was born August 22, 1920, the daughter of Edward and Elva (Smith) Drewes in Clay County. On February 4, 1947, she married Theodore A. Kocher at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney. He survives.

She enjoyed being a farmer’s wife and a mother to her three children. She worked for several years as a library clerk at East Junior High School in Ste. Marie. She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Altar Society. She was a charter member of Ste. Marie American Legion #932 Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed spending time with her family as well as sewing and reading.

Martha is survived by her husband of 65 years, Theodore Kocher of Newton; son, Ed (Lora) Kocher, of Newton; daughter, Cathy (Rocky) Schultz, of Red Oak, Texas; son-in-law, Chuck Paul, of New Lenox; grandchildren, Scott (Lindi) Kocher, of Conway Springs, Kan., Matt (Kerryann) Kocher, of Fishers, Ind., Jonathan Paul, of New Lenox, Christina Paul, of Methuen, Mass., Andrea (Justin) Friesenhahn, of Austin, Texas, and Jeffrey Schultz, of Ennis, Texas; great-grandchildren, Owen and Emily Kocher; sister, Mary Wright, of Olney; and sister-in-law, Wanda Drewes, of Olney.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Elva Drewes; daughter, Sheryl Paul; and a brother, George Drewes.

Published in Effingham Daily News, The (IL) - Monday, February 4, 2013