Helen J. Mathews
4/16/2009

KNOXVILLE-Helen J. Mathews, 79, Knoxville, died at 3:55 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg.

She was born March 6, 1930, in Delong, the daughter of Charles W. and Loreta Jane (Ferris) McCoy. She was married to Vernon “Speck” Mathews from October 1948 until 1975.

She is survived by one daughter, Rita (Marty) Smith, Abingdon; two sons, Melvin (Donna) Mathews of Galesburg and Paul (Ginger) Mathews, DeSoto, Mo.; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marjorie Mathews, Knoxville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother-in-law, Donald Dean Mathews, one grandson, Marcus Wagner, and one nephew, Gale W. Mathews.

She was reared and educated in Delong, graduating from the Gilson Tech High School. She attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, receiving certification for food service.

She worked as a cook at the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville; Knox College in Galesburg; the former Maple Hill and the former St. Martha Nursing Home in Knoxville; and finally at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Knoxville, retiring after 21 years.

She was a member of the former Delong Congregational Church and recently the Knoxville United Methodist Church.

She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America and involved with the Knoxville School District for many years.

Services were held Friday, April 10, 2009, at the Hurd Hendricks Funeral Home and Crematory in Knoxville with the Rev. Dane Mathews officiating

Burial was in Haynes Cemetery in rural Delong.

Memorials may be made to the family or the charity of the donor’s choice

On-line condolences may be made at www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com.