Karen Elaine (Buckner) Peel of Martinsville, IL, passed away peacefully at the age of 76 on Saturday, January 16, 2016. She was born on January 22, 1939 in Martinsville, IL, to J. Ansel Buckner and Madge Lena Cooper Buckner. On June 3, 1962 she married Dwight Edgar Peel in the Willow Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Martinsville, IL. He passed away on February 6, 2013.

She is survived by her two daughters, Janeen Rue of Cypress, TX, and Debbie Musielak and husband John of Oblong, IL; four grandchildren, Jim Dean of Cypress, TX, Jessica Coberly and husband Calvin of Tomball, TX, Zachary McNeil of Indianapolis, IN, and Kelsie McNeil and fiancé Joe Lider of Oblong, IL; six great grandchildren, Paige Garner, Jade Dean, Ian Dean, Triston Coberly and fiancé Tristan Williamson, Morgan Coberly and Gabriella Barber; and two great great grandchildren, Sofia Coberly and Riley Williamson. She is also survived by a sister, Marilyn Ulrey and husband Jerry of Springfield, MO, sister in law, Sharon Boaden and husband Bob of Edinburg, IL; five nieces and nephews, Doug Willis, Sheri Cornwell and husband Wesley, Leroy Boaden and wife Erin, Scott Ulrey and wife Polly, and Steve Ulrey and wife Stacy; along with several great nieces and great nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, step mother, Verlie Shaffner Buckner and a nephew, Jeffrey Ulrey.

Mrs. Peel was a lifelong member of the Willow Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She served in many roles in the church, including Elder and Sunday School teacher and leadership roles in the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. Karen was an English teacher for 28 years until retiring in 1995. She taught for 1 year in Edinburg, IL then at the Martinsville Jr.-Sr. High School. Karen was a member of the Ding Dong Gals, a group of women that started as a Home Extension Group then Avon, but ended as a group of women who just liked to have a good time. She loved travelling, especially with Dwight after they had retired. Karen’s greatest love was for her family.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Willow Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 6492 E. 400th Rd., Martinsville, IL with Rev. Kevin Small officiating. Burial will follow in the Butternut Cemetery, rural Martinsville, IL. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to the service time on Saturday at the Willow Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, IL.

The family requests that friends make donations to the Butternut Cemetery for upkeep, c/o Eddie Buckner, 4306 N 820th St., Martinsville, IL 62442 or the Willow Creek Church Lord’s Acre Fund, 6492 E. 400th Rd., Martinsville, IL 62442.

To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Greenwell Funeral Home, Martinsville, IL is in charge of the arrangements.