William Clay Matthews

Dear Matthews Family: Our hearts go out to you all at the loss of Clay, dear husband and father. We Pulkinens have lots of fond memories of Clay joking, dancing and having fun. When you all came to Charleston for beach vacations, I remember us kids having fun, but our parents just seemed to live larger. Clay was like a brother to my mom and she will miss cutting-up with him. I cannot help but smile when I think of Clay. May your fond memories help you all during this time of loss.
With love, Beth Pulkinen Ashworth and Joyce King Pulkinen

A great man with a great family following in his footsteps. Setting a wonderful example for those who didn't even meet him. Blessings and condolences to all. Ross Moody

Carolyn, and family, (Raymond) I will never forget Clay and his twinkle in his eye. Clay was a kind, caring and giving man. He gave in ways most would not think of as giving. His advice was a valuable gift as any, his kindness in lending an ear to many was a wonderful gift, lend a hand when someone needed one was a gift too. Clay always greeted me with a smile a mile wide and brighten my day. He was a man of integrity, compassion, and had a love for God, his family, and for his country. Foot Ball too. lol

I know you all will miss Clay, he is having the time of his life now.

It was my pleasure of taking care of Clay he was a kind,gentle soul! He was a sweet when he wanted to be! May God Bless You as you are walking on streets of Gold and God Bless to your family that you left behind! Sincerely,Dana Louise Healey Med Tech and Caregiver at Sweetgrass Court of Mt,Pleasant

Bruce,

Honestly to your entire family, but mostly to you.....your story is the story. Your relationship with your father says it all. It's what we all want. Not the spotlight and the highlights, but the relationship and the enduring bond between father and son. The thereness over time. You are who you are because of the things you learned from your dad. I'm not sure if there is a poem for NFL players but when my dad passed, someone posted a poem about pilots. It was meant for a select group of miraculous folks, but I think that the NFL players represent an even smaller group of individuals who chased their dreams. Since your dad was a paratrooper, I think it might somehow fit. I know it really hit home with me at his funeral.

I hope there's a place, way up in the sky,
Where pilots can go, when they have to die.

A place where a guy could buy a cold beer For a friend and a comrade whose memory is dear.

A place where no doctor or lawyer could tread, Nor a management-type would e'er be caught dead! Just a quaint little place, kind of small, full of smoke, Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke! The kind of a place where a lady could go, And feel safe and secure by the men she would know.

There MUST be a place where old pilots go, when Their wings become weary, when their airspeed gets low;

Where the whiskey is old, the women are young, and songs about flying and dying are sung.

Where you'd see all the fellows who'd "flown west" before, And they'd call out your name, as you came thru the door,

Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad, And tell all the others, "He was quite a good lad!"

There, thru the mist, you'd spot an old guy You had not seen for years, tho he had taught YOU to fly.

He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear, And say, "Welcome, my son, I'm proud that you're here! For this is the place where true
flyers come, When the battles are over, and
the wars have been won.

We've come here at last, to be safe

To the Matthews family , I like to say sorry for the loss of William, I know its hard even tho everyone knew it was coming soon. My prayers to all the family members
Just last week my father past at home, do to old age of 90.
I know God will be with him and he will be safe in good hands
God be with you
Eric Getzen

Clay's wings were ready; our hearts were not. We have so many lovely memories of happy times spent with Clay and Carolyn. Condolences to all the family members. We will pray for the repose of his soul.

Yesterday I received a phone call from my dearest friend Bruce that his father had just passed away. To say I was floored isn't the right thing. To say I was thrown back in time to my younger days when I was in my early adolescence is better. There are so many people that shape you when you growing up. well this man...... this mans-man Clay Matthews Sr. was that gentleman.
There have been a couple people in my life outside of my father that have made such a lasting impact on me. One was my high school coach Dick Salter and the other was Clay Matthews Sr,
Clay was more than "one of my buddies dad" he was that mentor that led by example.
The way I raise my sons now is the same way he raised Kristy, Clay Jr., Bradley, Raymond and Bruce. I hear the echoes of Clay Sr, when I am telling my kids once you start something "you gotta finish it"..... I learned about being humble. I see myself always pushing my sons-- keeping them on the straight and narrow. I hear the echoes of Clay still when I see my sons teammates at Upland High about "finishing",
Thank You to the Matthews children for sharing your dad with me.
Clay Sr. gave a gift to me I never can repay.
With a heavy heart full of Love
"SAM"

Our stepdad Clay Matthews Sr. "handsomed away" on March 23rd at age 88 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Married to my mom for over 30 years, he was larger than life and we have many, many great memories of his storytelling, singing and love of family and friends. He loved See's Candy, particularly their peanut brittle, and was known to consume pints of ice cream voraciously. We will miss him but are happy he is at peace in his eternal "Beulah Land"... sending much love to all the Matthews family, but particularly Clay, Kristy, Bruce and Raymond (and Brad whom he has reunited with in heaven). A life well-lived.

To the Matthews Family.
All of our thoughts and prayers are with you all, as you go through this difficult time. I remember the times when we played little league and your folks would come over to my parents house in Arcadia and just sit and talk, your dad and mine sitting in the family room sharing stories about the Korean War and what they both did in the service. How he would volunteer his time to help out any way he could with baseball events. He will be dearly missed. May he RIP.

David Shurtleff and the Shurtleff Family