Robert E. Matthews

by admin

obit_placeholder_10Graveside services for Robert Emmit Matthews of Seminole were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 2, 2016 at Gaines County Memorial Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home of Seminole.

A life made rich through love and meaningful service drew to a close with the passing of Robert Emmit Matthews of Seminole on November 29, 2016, at the age of 97. While his loss is deeply felt, the certain knowledge of a life well lived may comfort all of those who cherished this father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, friend, and community leader.
Mr. Matthews was born in rural Hood County, Texas to John and Ida Locke Matthews on March 13th, 1919. Growing up on a farm, he learned the value of hard work early, a characteristic that would stay with him all his life and that would aid him when he founded Matthews Farms on the Denver City Highway in 1946, an enterprise still in operation today.
Prior to founding the family farm, Robert answered his country’s call to service and enlisted with the Corp of Army Engineers on May 7th, 1941. Dedicated to helping with the war effort in anyway he could, he gallantly served until the end of the war as a skilled mechanic, seeing action in Northern France, the Rhineland, Ardennes, and through Central Europe. He was also proud to serve alongside the engineers and servicemen who built the Alaskan Highway. His meritorious efforts earned him several commendations, including the American Theater Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, and the EAME Campaign Medal with Four Bronze Stars.
After the war, Mr. Matthews married Eloise Gristy on May 27, 1946, with whom he shared more than 50 years of love and laughter. He worked tirelessly to establish a successful farm, and after passing on his agricultural operation to his son, Gary, he began a distinguished tenure as Gaines County Commissioner, a role he deftly filled for 28 years, and one in which his leadership and work ethic greatly benefited the town he was proud to call home. He also gave of his time and talents as a member of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, and as a deacon at the 7th Street Church of Christ.
While the death of Robert Matthews brings great sadness to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that will long be treasured by all those who held him dear. He is survived in death by one brother, Gail Matthews, of Beverley Hills, California, and three children, Martha Cavitt and her husband, David of Houston, Texas, Margie Kendall and her husband, Richard, of Montgomery, Texas, and Gary Matthews, and his wife, Marsha, of Seminole, Texas. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Laura Whitehead of Houston, Texas, Jerry Cavitt of Grandbury, Texas, John Mark Cavitt of Sugarland, Texas, Stephen Cavitt of Cary, North Carolina, Katie Hoy of Austin, Texas, Cody Matthews of Lubbock, Texas, and Ben Matthews of Wimberley, Texas, as well as 17 great-grandchildren.

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