Ben Gaines Matthews

Ben Gaines Matthews, attorney and banker, 96, of Simpsonville, died on Saturday, the 12th day of November 2022, at The Episcopal Church Home in Louisville. Born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, he was the middle son of the late Robert Foster Matthews, Sr., and Zerelda Tribble Baxter Matthews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Robert Foster Matthews, Jr., and William Edmund Matthews.

His survivors include his wife, Jean Lee Matthews; his daughter, Blair Matthews Louis and her husband, Hunter, of Louisville; his son, Gaines Matthews, and his wife, Sally, of Houston, Texas; his two grandchildren, Sara Blair Gillette and her husband, Jackson, and Ben Gaines Matthews III, all of Houston, Texas; and his two great-grandchildren, Georgia Louise Gillette and Ford Jackson Gillette, also of Houston.

In 1944, he attended the University of Virginia prior to joining the United States Navy during World War II, subsequently graduating from the University of Louisville Law School in 1948. He played basketball for the University of Virginia and was coached by Gus Tebell, his long time and well-though of mentor. At the University of Louisville, he had a close association with basketball coaches Peck Hickman and Denny Crum.

Ben married Jean Blair Lee, the only daughter of Robert and Josephine Lee in Richmond Virginia in 1950. They celebrated their seventy-second wedding anniversary this year. Ben was known for his love of family and friends, extensive world travels, a wonderful model train collection, a nationally recognized duplicate bridge record, sports of all types, especially his perfect 300 bowling score, and his many farms and vegetable gardens. He started practicing law in February, 1949, with his father, Robert F. Matthews. He served as City Judge for over four years until 1960. In 1970, he became the president and CEO of the Shelby County Trust Bank, later Commonwealth Bank and Trust and now Stockyards Bank, and serving as a director for forty years. He relinquished his position as president of the bank in 1980, continuing the practice of law for a career spanning over fifty-four years. He was a member of the Simpsonville United Methodist Church.

His family offers sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the staff at The Episcopal Church Home for their compassionate and professional care, and to Ronnie Craig for his many years of service and friendship.

Memorial services will be private with the Reverend Deborah Kelly officiating. Interment will be in the Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M., until 7:00 P.M., Friday, the 18th day of November, 2022, at the Hall-Taylor Funeral Home of Shelbyville. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Shelby County Community Theatre, 801 Main Street, Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065, or to the Simpsonville United Methodist Church, 105 First Street, Simpsonville, Kentucky 40067. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hall-Taylor Funeral Home of Shelbyville, and condolences may be expressed at www.halltaylorfuneralhomes.com.