Theresa C. Mathews Ware, 83, passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at the Summer Wood Care Center in Moses Lake Washington.

Theresa was born on September 11, 1929 in McCook, Nebraska to Ross C. and Doris F. (McClung) Zimmerman. She attended a one room country school outside of McCook, usually by horseback. She left the farm and boarded in town to attend McCook High School, graduating in 1947. On July 17, 1947 she married Clarence B. Mathews. Clarence was a heavy equipment construction worker so the family moved all over the western U.S. In 1956, Clarence bought land near Warden and after they cleared a spot for a house, the family moved onto the "Warden Farm" in 1957. Theresa and Clarence developed the land and farmed until Clarence's health failed. She cared for him at home until his passing in 1976. Theresa met many friends and acquaintances' when she worked in the quality assurance department at Country Gardens; the first potato processing plant in Warden during the early 60's and into the 70's. Theresa married Delphus Ware in 1978 and moved to the Quincy/George area where she helped farm and raise cattle, until his passing in 2009. Theresa was a member of the Washington Cattle Women's Association and was honored as the Grant County Cattlewoman of the Year in 2009.

Theresa was a woman of many talents and was a gifted artist. She enjoyed oil painting on canvas, cream cans, circular and crosscut saws. She won many ribbons at the Grant County Fair for her skills; painting sewing, knitting, gardening, and canning. Theresa enjoyed cooking for anyone who would stop by for a visit and I'm sure she wants you to know that if you left her house hungry it was your own fault. She enjoyed traveling and showing visiting friends and family the Pacific Northwest.

Theresa is preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Ira Zimmerman’61, her two husbands, Clarence and Delphus. Theresa is survived by her son John B. (Teresa) Mathews of Ephrata, WA and her daughter Helen Jean (Jerry) Rowe of Edmonds, WA, her brother, George S. Zimmerman of Red Bluff, CA, her two sisters, Grace Carse’50 of Edinburg, TX and Rachel E. McBride’54 of Elko, NV., 6 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

As she requested, Theresa was put to rest beside Clarence at a private graveside service held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Warden. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Children's Hospital or the charity of your choice in her name.