James Sidney Matthews

MATTHEWS James Sidney Matthews, loved and admired by his family, his friends and almost everyone who knew him well, passed from this life, on the second day of June, 2012 and left us all with an irreplaceable loss. 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 years, Mildred Ilene Franklin Matthews, who passed away in 2009, left us all with an inspiring example to support us in our loss. James was born June 7, 1926, in Berlin, Oklahoma, and grew up with his mother, Jesse Lee Chappell Matthews and his two brothers, William Nolan (Sonny), Daniel Francis, and his sister, Doris Ellen, where he received a foundation which served him so well in his life and the lives of others he touched. At seventeen he enlisted and served proudly during WWII in the Navy where he was a Signalman in the South Pacific. When he returned, he graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Oklahoma and was involved in the Sand Creek Project. He moved on to work on projects in Arkansas. Ultimately he worked in hydrologic engineering with the Army Corp of Engineers, serving in Cincinnati and Chicago where he retired. He became an attorney and practiced in Cincinnati and Columbus before his second retirement. Along the way he received a Masters degree in Business Administration. Settling in Columbus after his working life, he served various veteran causes and was honored as the Commander in his VFW. He traveled with members of the VFW to be honored in the WWII Memorial dedication in Washington. 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, James Sidney Matthews Jr, Mari Lynne Matthews Casden, and Dayna Marlene Matthews Brown; their spouses, Valerie Matthews, Alan Casden, and Barrett Brown; brother, Daniel; and sister, Doris; grandchildren, Jason and Carrie Casden, Catelin, Cara, Aubrey, Luke, and Macy Brown, Becky Miles, Damon Reavis; and great-grandchildren, Catelyn, Ryan, Jacob, Mailee and Dustee; nieces, Carolyn Cruz, Judy and Kathy Matthews; nephew, Jim Mogg; half- siblings, Nola and Robert Matthews; sister-in-law, Pat; and many others who were lucky enough to share his life. Arrangements are by MARTNI'S FUNERAL HOME in Elk City, OK. He will be buried in Berlin, Oklahoma on Saturday June 9, 2012.