Martha Luan (Smith) Hickenbottom, 94, of Bushnell, IL, passed away on September 5, 2026, at Wesley Village in Macomb. Martha was born at home on September 25, 1931, in Prairie City Township to Walter M. and Dorothy H. (Thompson) Smith.
She graduated from Bushnell-Prairie City High School in 1949 as the class salutatorian. On June 24, 1950, Martha married her high school sweetheart, Forrest Leon (Lonny) Hickenbottom of Bushnell. He preceded her in death on November 2, 1976.
Martha was a life-long resident of the Bushnell and Prairie City area except for the few years she spent with her husband in California when his Illinois National Guard unit was activated due to the Korean Conflict. Many of their National Guard friends and couples from the Bushnell area were also sent to California during that time. Martha gave birth to their son while in California.
Martha was a homemaker until her husband’s death after which she, her son, Roger, and her daughter and son-in-law, Sally and Clint Sinnett, took over the family business, Hickenbottom Ford dealership in Bushnell. After closing the business in late 1982, Martha worked for Bertie Chambers’ Bushnell Realty and Sam Chatterton Insurance. She retired in 1993.
In her younger years, Martha enjoyed baking cookies, sewing, and crocheting. Her buttermilk, frosted chocolate, and snicker doodle cookies were her specialties. She sewed all of her daughters’ clothes when they were in school. She crocheted beautiful afghans for all six of her grandchildren. In her later years, Martha enjoyed adult coloring books and proudly displayed them in a binder.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara (Joe) Powell, her great-granddaughter, Clara Seaver, and her son, Roger Hickenbottom.
She is survived by her daughters, Sue (Tom) Shogren of Macomb, and Sally (Clint) Sinnett of Bushnell, and daughter-in-law, Mary Sue Hickenbottom of Bushnell; six grandchildren: Loni Shogren of Macomb, Megan (Tony) Seaver of Bushnell, Lisa (Austin) Smith of Ames, IA, Eric (Haley) Hickenbottom of Prairie City, Andrea Leinbach of Macomb, and Nathan (Brittney) Hickenbottom of Bushnell; 10 great-grandchildren: Brady DeWeese and Jovi Jean, Jesselin and Aylah Seaver, Alivia and Jaxon Smith, Emilie and Jake Hickenbottom, Isaac and Owen Leinbach, two step great-grandchildren: Nicole (Dakota) Schimmel of Kansas, and Brittany (Alex) Harriott of Fort Madison, IA; and two step great-great-grandchildren: Jakoby and Odaya Schimmel. Also surviving are her niece, Luan (Van) Blake, of Fort Worth, TX, and nephew, Terry (Jan) Powell of N. Charleston, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bushnell Swimming Pool.
Private family graveside services will be held at the Prairie City Cemetery. Martin-Hollis Funeral Home in Bushnell is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.martinhollisfh.com
