Our Team

Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.

Jay M. Markwell

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Jay M. Markwell has been a funeral director and embalmer at Markwell Funeral Homes since 1986. He is a true people person and is passionate about working and giving back to the local community. Jay enjoys connecting with families and continuing to build and grow his relationship with the public. He is also skilled at embalming and restorative art. In his free time Jay appreciates playing the occasional round of golf, and is also an amateur bird watcher. His birdhouses attract purple martins that fly over 5,000 miles one way to stay during the spring and summer. Jay retired in December 2018 but occasionally stops in to share his expertise and lend a helping hand.

Matthew D. McGowan

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Matthew D. McGowan was born and raised in the small Southeastern Illinois town of Eldorado, IL. Matt graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1995 where he earned his degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service. After graduating from SIU, Matt moved to Champaign, Illinois where he began his funeral directing career. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Illinois since October of 1996. Matt joined Markwell Funeral Home and Greenwell Funeral Home in August 2020 and will be living in the apartment at Greenwell Funeral Home. In his free time Matt enjoys archery and deer hunting. In addition, Matt has been a stamp collector since he was six years old. Matt also enjoys Jeep rides with his dog, Cobie.

Dee Partlow

Funeral Home Manager

Dee is the manager of Markwell Funeral Homes and Greenwell Funeral Home, where she has worked for almost 30 years. She began working at Markwell Funeral Home two weeks before she started mortuary school, and worked while commuting to school and raising a family. Dee makes sure that all administrative duties run smoothly and effectively. She has always worked in an office environment, as a manager and bookkeeper with all of the duties that these roles entail. When not working at the funeral homes, she and her husband enjoy traveling, scuba diving and spending time with their grown children and adorable grandsons.

Sandi Huelskamp

Preneed Planning Counselor

Sandi has been a preneed planning counselor for 28 years and has worked with Markwell Funeral Homes since 1994. She believes that there is not a better feeling than to sit at a family’s kitchen table and assist them in doing something wonderful for their families. “I have laughed, and I have cried with them,” says Sandi. Sandi truly loves her job and being a part of the Markwell Funeral Homes Family.

Bill Williams

Support Staff

Bill came to work at Markwell Funeral Home right after his retirement as the Manager of the Casey IGA in 1999. He works funerals, visitations, handles the vehicle and grounds maintenance at the Markwell Funeral Home. When Bill in not working at the funeral home he works part time as an auditor for Pepsi Co and attends all the local sporting events, especially the ones his grandchildren participate in. Bill and his family are very active in church; he has been a member for over 60 years and has served as Sunday school superintendent for over 25 years.

Bart Long

Support Staff

Bart has worked for the Greenwell Funeral Home since 1978 after a career in the US Marine Corp. He works funerals, visitations and grounds maintenance at the Greenwell Funeral Home. He is also a part time school bus driver for the local school district and volunteers at the local food pantry. Bart is an active member of the Martinsville American Legion, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Scottish Rites, Shriners, Eastern Star and is the secretary of Clark Lodge #603. He enjoys traveling especially to visit his family in Missouri and Oregon.

Sharon Anderson

Custodian

Sharon has been the custodian at the Markwell Funeral Home for over 20 years and has now added the Greenwell Funeral Home to her duties. She has been a licensed cosmetologist since 1970. In her spare time she helps her husband farm and enjoys spending time with her daughters and grandchildren. Sharon has been an active member of her church for over 50 years and is a lover of animals (especially cats) and an advocate of animal rescue

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