Martha Tyrrhene (Moss) Howrey, formerly of Kemp, passed away on November 5, 2011 at the age of 104. Martha Tyrrhene had been a resident of the Champaign County Nursing Home since July of 2006. Her husband, Clyde J. Howrey, preceded her in death in 1963 and Martha Tyrrhene never re-married.

Martha Tyrrhene Howrey was born in Kemp; a daughter of Alva T. and Pearl (Van Buskirk) Moss. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother; Paul Moss and two sisters; Elizabeth Van Voorhis and Katherine Hodges. She is survived by a brother; Harold Moss of Charleston. She graduated from Hindsboro High School and from Eastern Illinois Teacher's College with a Teaching Certificate. She had been assigned to teach at the Hemingway School near Kemp but chose to get married rather than teach so she did not teach in the classroom but "taught" every day with her children. Martha Tyrrhene spent the majority of her life as a homemaker and invested many of her younger years raising her seven children. After her children were raised Martha Tyrrhene enjoyed working part-time at Hayes Brothers Store in Kemp and other part-time jobs she took in order to fill her time after the kids had grown and left home. She loved visiting with family, cooking, watching her kids and grandkids play sports, ILLINI football and basketball, traveling and eating out, especially chicken dinners. She leaves behind seven children, seventeen grandchildren and twenty one great-grandchildren. She would have celebrated her 105th birthday on January 14, 2012.

Martha Tyrrhene's children in order of birth are: Virginia (the late Jim) Wiseman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Jack (Ruth Etta) Howrey of Charleston; Josephine (the late Charles) Gerrie of Greensboro, NC; Jim Howrey of Oakland; Don (Debra) Howrey of Harviell, MO; Gary Howrey of Urbana and Mick Howrey of St. Louis.

Martha Tyrrhene was a member of the Kemp Church of Christ for over ninety years. After moving to Urbana she attended Weber Street Christian Church and Philo Road Church of Christ. She loved to sing at church and was invited to sing at numerous funeral services throughout the years.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Shrader Funeral Home in Arcola with visitation scheduled at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9 and funeral services at the funeral home scheduled at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 10 with visitation at 10 a.m. on the day of the funeral service. Burial will be in Arcola Township Cemetery next to her husband, father and other family members.

At the donor's discretion, in lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Clyde Jackson and Martha Tyrrhene Howrey Memorial Fund at the Kemp, IL Church of Christ.

Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.hilligossshraderfh.com.