MATTHEWS
John Herbert Matthews passed away at the age of 83, in Eagle Lake Mar. 6 surrounded by his family. John spent a lifetime loving and taking care of “his girls.” This meant looking after his mother and sister as a young man after losing his father, and then caring for his wife and three daughters later. None could have asked for a better man to fill this role, as he loved so deeply and was such an incredibly supportive and thoughtful man. For those who knew John, they will miss his huge welcoming smile, his great talks, and his warm and generous hospitality. It has often been said that John never knew a stranger, because he could make conversation with anyone and discuss about any topic imaginable. He had a way of making other people feel like they were the only person in the room when he talked with them, always offering sincere attention and genuine kindness to everyone he met.
Born in Houston Oct. 5, 1938, he was the only son of Verner Thomas Matthews (Lefty) and Frances Sue Matthews (Fanny.) He and his sister, Sue, were raised in Eagle Lake in the Matthews’ family home that Sue and her family still reside in today. John attended Eagle Lake schools through his sophomore year of high school, but then transferred to New Mexico Military Institute for his last two years of high school. His father, who had attended Texas A&M, decided that NMMI would be a good prep school for John prior to his college attendance at Texas A&M. However, Lefty died in a tragic car accident in 1956, when John was just 17, and life changed drastically in that moment. Among those many changes, John decided that he had little desire to attend a military college after attending a military high school and opted instead to attend Tulane University. He loved the city of New Orleans and became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity during his college years. In 1961 he obtained his B.A. in Psychology from Tulane. John then went on to serve two years in the United States Army, serving as a Captain of Transportation in the Panama Canal Zone from 1962-1964. Upon returning from the Army, John decided to further his education and his love for U.S. History by obtaining his master’s degree from Trinity University in San Antonio.
John met the love of his life when he was 12 years old. He may not have known it at the time of course, but over the years, his path just kept crossing with that of Joan Halkett. John’s aunt spent most of her career as an accountant working in San Francisco for Joan’s father. She became like family to the Halketts, so naturally when her sister, Fanny and her family would come to visit, both families would get together. This happened on several vacations throughout the years, and as they grew into young adults, John and Joan started to see each other in a new light. At Christmas in 1966, John proposed to Joan, and she happily accepted. They were married in August of 1967, in San Francisco. They first lived in Kerrville while he taught and finished his master’s degree at Trinity University in 1969.
With his love of teaching at the college level, a Ph. D. in History was the logical next step. This required a move to Atlanta, GA while he taught and studied at Emory University. The first two of this three daughters, Lesley and Jennifer were born in Atlanta. While working on his dissertation, the family moved to Clinton, Mississippi for John to begin teaching at Hinds Junior College. He had a true gift and love for teaching history to others, as he could make stories and events come to life when he vividly explained them. By the time John left teaching, he was serving as the Chairman of the Social Science and Business Division at Hinds Ju nior College. In 1978, John and Joan were blessed with a third daughter, Sarah.
In 1979, John moved his family back home to Eagle Lake to help his mother with operations of the family farm. John also became an active and involved member in the community. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, a parishioner and Vestry Board member of Christ Episcopal Church, a Rice CISD School Board member from 1986-1992, and a board member at the First National Bank of Eagle Lake from 1991-2011. He was also appointed by Governor George W. Bush to be a board member for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) representing the rice farming communities in and around Colorado County. He served in this position from 1997-2007.
John is preceded in death by his parents and his eldest daughter, Lesley Matthews Carey. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Joan Matthews, their other two daughters, Jennifer Matthews Olson and Sarah Matthews, and their son-in-law, John Carey. They have four beautiful grandchildren, Andrew and Jake Olson, and Matt and Kristen Carey. He is also survived by his sister, Sue Matthews Weller and husband, George A. Weller, Jr. and their four children Verner Matthews (Matt) Weller and wife Alysen, Kathryn Weller Thompson and her three children, George A. Weller, III, and Herbert H. Weller. He also has one sister-in-law, Bonnie Halkett.
John’s wishes were to have a private family funeral service at his small Christ Episcopal Church in Eagle Lake. Honorary pallbearers will be Ken Boone, Wayne Corman, Ray Cumberworth, Bill Harrison, Jr., Kenneth Mahalitc, Dr. Russell Thomas, Mark Warner and Ted Wimberly.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the following organizations: Rice Medical Center Employee Volunteers, 600 S. Austin Road, Eagle Lake, TX 77434 or Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department, 104 E. Post Office Street, Eagle Lake, TX 77434.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com.