Sherman Audrey "Bo" Mathews

MSgt. (Retired)
Sherman "Bo" Audrey Mathews
Abilene

MSgt. (Retired) Sherman "Bo" Audrey Mathews, 80, of Abilene, passed away January 14, 2011. The family will receive friends from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Monday at North's Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange Street. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at North's Memorial Chapel with Chaplain Burt Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park, under the direction of North's Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers will be James Roberts, Justin Roberts, Shanon Turnbow and Chase Turnbow.
Sherman "Bo" was the youngest of ten children born to George Washington and Laura Maude Mathews in Vinson, Oklahoma. From Oklahoma, Bo traveled to California, where he met and married his wife of 63 years 7 months, Johnnie Faye Hunter on June 15, 1947 in Yuba City, California.
Family always came first for Bo. As a husband and father, no one could ask for more. His love, care, and nurturing spirit gave his wife and daughters a foundation well beyond their wildest dreams. In good times, he was always with us to share our successes. In bad times, he was the rock we leaned on to work through the crises and saw the rainbow on the other side.
Bo was faithful to anyone or any project he accepted. Internal strength allowed him and his wife to build a strong team, taking on any issue no matter how great or small, decide the best solution, and put it into action. He pulled no punches but wasn't cruel. He was a true gentleman throughout his life.
Bo entered the United States Air Force in October of 1951, and retired on February 28, 1974. He began his 22 1/2 years of military service as a motor pool operator and served in the Korean conflict. Bo had exceptional math skills and upon returning stateside, completed loadmaster training, subsequently serving on C-119, C-124 and C-130 cargo planes. His career spanned the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. He also supported other United States and United Nations efforts throughout the world. Bo ended his military career as a first sergeant at Randolph AFB, Texas. He and his family returned to Abilene for the third and final time.
In Abilene, Bo worked as a security guard for Aileen's clothing manufacturer and then as a heavy equipment operator for Contract Paving of Tye and Stephens and Martin Paving in Abilene. Health issues curtailed his heavy equipment operator career and he returned to school, receiving his Associate Degree in Applied Science from Cisco Junior College in 1989. After receiving his degree, Bo returned to the workforce at the Restitution Center, then at French Robertson Prison as the Food Service Supervisor. He also worked for the Abilene Reporter News.
One of Bo's proudest accomplishments was his community service work as an active member of the Elmwood West Lion's Club. Besides holding numerous offices within the club, he served as a volunteer for the Western Heritage, West Texas Fair and Rodeo, and West Texas Rehab Telethon. In addition, he was intimately involved in any number of Lions activities, such as the Abused Women's Crises Center, the Lion's summer camp for disabled children, School Nurse Recognition program, and many other activities.
Bo is preceded in death by his father, mother, four brothers, and four sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Johnnie; two daughters, Barbara Turnbow and husband Joe of Anchorage, Alaska and Janet Burks and husband Robert of Baird, Texas; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Josephine Hodges of Grand Prairie, Texas and a significant number of nieces and nephews.
His impact on friends and family will last forever.
The Mathews family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Hospice of the Big Country for all the care and support they have shown.
Online condolences can be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com