John P. "Pete" Matheson

John P. "Pete" Matheson, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2011 of a stroke in his home town of Everson and was taken to St. Joseph Hospital. He was surrounded by his family and friends. Pete grew up on the Smith Road, graduated from Meridian High School, served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and married his high school sweetie, Pauline. They lived and raised their family in the home he built in Everson for 55 years. He worked at Columbia Valley Lumber Co., Georgia Pacific building materials and was co-owner of Nooksack Valley Building Center until his retirement at age 71. Pete obviously enjoyed his work and all the people in the home building business. His favorite hobbies included family camp-outs and campfire sing-a-longs, sports, hunting and bird-watching. Pete especially loved his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews, life-long neighbors, high school friends, and church family. He enjoyed serving in his Everson community and in his church. Pete was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church for 60 years. Pete was deeply loved by his family, his friends and by those who knew him. He will be missed by many whose lives he touched. Pete was preceded in death by his sister, Anne and brother, Lloyd and his oldest son, Jay. He is survived by his wife, Pauline of 57 years; brother, Earl Matheson (wife Fran), and sister, Maggie Matheson Hanson, (Hans); daughter, Pam Matheson Ensley(husband Robert); sons, Jon Matheson (partner Robert), Marty Matheson (wife Jackie); grandchildren Jayme (husband Rob), Tim, Brett, Randi, Jona, Mick, Salli Jo; great-grandchildren Aidan and Alan. Visitation will be Wed. March 9, 4 to 7 pm at Gillies Funeral Home in Lynden. Graveside services will be conducted at Ten Mile Cemetery, Thurs., March 10, 12:30 pm followed by a 2 pm memorial service at St. John's Lutheran Church, 2530 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham. Memorials are suggested to: The Laurendeau Foundation for Cancer Care, P.O. Box 157, Bellingham, WA 98225 or St. John's Lutheran Church at the address above. You may share your thoughts and stories of Pete with his family in the online guest book at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home of Lynden