Harold A. Matthews

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Harold A. Matthews, 93, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 at the Goshen Care Center in Torrington.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25, at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Rick Cederholm officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Visitation hours will be held Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home and the casket will be open at the church service.
Those who wish may direct memorial contributions in Harold's memory to either the First Baptist Church or to the Goshen Care Center. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Harold was born Dec. 1, 1914, in Bayard the son of Clarence A. and Georena D. (Olson) Matthews. The family moved to Minatare living there until Harold's mother passed away from flu and childbirth complications. The children then went to live in Aurora, Neb. with their grandparents; later moving to Giltner, Neb. with their father.
Harold attended schools in Aurora, Omaha, and North Platte, Neb. On May 21, 1932, he married Doris Mary Baty in Ringgold County, Neb. The family lived in North Platte, Neb. where Harold was employed as a chef in numerous cafes; Union Pacific Depot, Shafer's, and Joe's Dine and Dance. He and his family moved to Torrington in 1946 where he and his brothers, Maro and Eugene, owned and operated the Wyoming Grill for 21 years.
After the Grill was sold, Harold went to work at the University of Wyoming, at Laramie, Wyo., as a meat cutter for the food service department. He and Doris returned to Torrington where Harold worked for the Goshen County School District as a custodian and drove school bus for 15 years. When he retired, Harold continued to drive school bus. During this time also, Harold and his brother, Eugene started the Chicken Hut in Torrington. After the Chicken Hut was sold, he drove the Senior Center transportation vehicles for seven years. Harold spent the next several years being a caretaker for his wife, Doris. They had been married 65 years at the time of her death in 1998. Harold entered the Goshen Care Center in December of 2004.
Survivors include his daughter, Jerina Curran of Torrington; sons, Jack (Joanne) Matthews of Torrington; Daryl (Laurel) Matthews of California; Bernard (Dorothy) Matthews of Wheatland, Wyo.; James Matthews of Torrington; and Robert (Linda) Matthews of Glenrock, Wyo.; brother, Maro (Helen) Matthews of Torrington; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren, and two great-great-great granddaughters, 10 step great-grandchildren, and eight great-great step-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and his beloved wife, Harold was preceded in death by his son Donald; brother, Eugene; sister, Delia; a son-in-law, Mil Curran, daughter-in-law, Paula Matthews, and one grandson, Neal.