Martha Louise Coers

Martha Coers left this life January 19, 2013, as the sun rose on a bright, sunny Saturday. She began her life on an equally sunny Sunday, May 23, 1920, in her grandmother's sewing shop in Shelbyville. She was welcomed by her grandmother, Martha Stewart, for whom she was named, her parents Clark and Ethel McKenney, and brother Norman. She wrote in her book, When Lit, Goes Off with a Bang! about her happy childhood, which became even better when she was given her beloved violin. That opened a world of music in orchestras and other musical groups. When her blue eyes met the equally azure ones of Kenneth Knox Fallis, she forgot about a teaching career and became a farm wife and mother, only to become a widow three years later. Work in a wartime defense plant led her to her second love, Dennis Coers, and brought her a second son. She infused her children and grandchildren with her love of music, poetry, books, drawing, dancing, and writing. Her fortunate family who have inherited her talents are sons Kenneth Clark (Marilyn) Fallis, Frederick (Lynn) Coers, grandsons James (Sylinda) Fallis, Thomas (Stacia) Fallis, Dennis Odell Coers, David (Kelly) Coers, and great-grandchildren Whitley Fallis, Derek Coers, and Shelbi Coers. This Saturday morning her final column will appear in The Shelbyville News. That afternoon her family invites her friends and fans to join them in a celebration of her remarkable life at Blue Ridge Christian Union Church for a reception between two and five o'clock. At three o'clock a remembrance hour will be held. Everyone is invited to share a story and ring one of her bells as our angel gets her wings. Services entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. There will be no flowers, but contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, or a charity of one's choice.