James Matthews, loved and admired by his two daughters, Mari Lynnme Matthews Casden, Dayna Marlene Matthews Brown, and their husbands, his son, James S. Matthews Jr., and his wife, nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren, a surviving brother and sister, a surviving half-brother, nieces, and nephews, friends and most everyone who knew him well, passed from this life and left us all with an irreplaceable loss, on the 2nd day of June, 2012. He would often say that he wanted most to be a good father, and he succeeded in being a wonderful father all of his life. He and his wife of more than fifty and our mother, grandmotheer and great grandmother, Mildred Ilene Matthews, left us all with an inspiring example to support us in our losse.
Born June 7th, 1926, he grew up in Berlin, Oklahoma, with his two brothers, William Molan (Sonny) and Daniel Francis, his sister Dorris Ellen, and his mother, Jesse Lee, where he recreived a foundation which served him so well in his life and the lives of others he touched. He served hnorably during WWII in the Navy, although he had to fudge on his age a bit. When he returned he graduated from OSU with a BS in civil engineering and a Masters in mechanical engineering. Successful work in Oklahoma for the Soil Conservation Service included the Sand Creek project. Ultimately he worked in hydrologival engineering with the Army Corp of Engineering, serving in Arkansas, Cincinnanti, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, where he retired. He became a lawyer and practiced in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, before his retirement.
Along the way he received a Masters degree in Business Administration. Settling in Columbius with daughter Mari after his working life, he served various veteran causes and was honored as the Commander by his VFW. He traveled with members of his VFW to be honored in the WWII Memorial dedcication in Washington.
He ended his life in the care of daughter Dayna in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by those who loved him.
Words fail in expressing what he has meant to us in his life and will mean to us always.
James is survived by his Children, and their spouses, Alan Casden, Barrett Brown and Valerie Matthews, brother Daniel and sister Doris, Grabndchildren Cafelin, Cara, Aubry, Luke, and Macy Brown, Carrie and Jason Casden, Becky Miles, Damron Reavis, and Great Grandchildren Catelyn, Ryan, Jacob, Mailee and Dustee, niece Carolyn Cruz, nephew Jim Moggs, nieces, Kathy and Judy (Matthews), sister-in-law Pat, and many others who were fortunate enough to share his life.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 06, 2012 at Martin Funeral Home in Elk City, Oklahoma. Interment followed at Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, Oklahoma.
Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 14JUN2012