Barbara Matthews

Barbara Alene Childers Matthews was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on September 5, 1929, the third child of Jack Childers and Avis Dell Jones Childers. She passed from this life to her eternal home on March 1, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sons Stanley Jack Matthews and John David Matthews, her brother James Childers, her sister Anna Elizabeth Childers Parker, and her great-grandson Augustus Beck. She is survived by her husband of almost 67 years, Aaron Arch Matthews, her daughter Emmadell Matthews Beck and husband Brian, her son Michael Matthews and wife Sue Partain Matthews, and her son Ron Matthews and wife Jerilyn Kessner Matthews. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, six grandchildren-in-law and five great grandchildren, her sister Irma Dell Childers Brett and husband George, her sister Amy Childers Shoaf, and her brother Sam Childers and wife Connie.

Barbara was an active member of the Church of Christ, teaching, hosting visiting preachers and church members in her home, and cleaning the building, too. Along with raising her family and dealing with the work of an active small farm in Wild Peach, Barbara worked for many years for Columbia-Brazoria ISD, starting with the Child Find Program, moving into substitute teaching, and ending her career as a teacher's aide. Barbara enjoyed friendships and outings with her friends as a Red Hat Society Queen Mum. She was a hospice volunteer for several years.

Barbara was happiest outdoors, gardening, walking the neighborhood, watching the well-fed birds in her yard, and playing with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed and cared for all living things, including her dearly loved dog, Jazz.
Barbara experienced hardships and tragedy throughout her life, but maintained her optimistic outlook on life in spite of circumstances. She demonstrated her deep faith through joy and sorrow, saying, "God is in control."

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Baker Funeral Home in Brazoria with Rick Moore and Doug Raymer officiating. Burial will follow at Gulf Prairie Cemetery in Jones Creek. Visitation will be from 12:30 until service time on Saturday. Serving as pallbearers are Zachary, Griffin, and Payton Beck, Luke and Tyler Matthews, Nathan, John and Daniel Matthews, and Nate Lankford.

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

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