OBITUARY OF LOYAL MATHEWS

Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, December 1997


GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.– Loyal LeRoy Mathews of Grand Junction, Colo., died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997, at his residence. He was 59.

LeRoy was born March 10, 1938, in Haigler, Neb., to Willard and Inez (Williams) Mathews. He spent his childhood in Stratton, Neb., and graduated from high school in McCook, Neb. He moved from Nebraska to Denver, Colo., and to the Western Slope of Colorado in 1982.

He married Sharon Colleene Smith on June 27, 1965, in Littleton, Colo.

Loyal worked for Eberhart Electric as an electrician. He was a member of the Clifton Bible Chapel and had served in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed fishing, skiing and golfing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three infant sisters and an infant brother.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of Grand Junction; two sons: Bryan Willard and Candace of Grand Junction and Gary Charles and Tyler of Denver; a daughter, Kimberly Lynn and Patrick Cowger of Paonia, Colo.; four brothers: Willard and Darlene of Sun City West, Ariz., Gary and Carol of Canon City, Colo., Jerry of Benkelman, Neb., and John of Denver; three sisters: Dorene and Gary Purdy of Omaha, Neb., Carolyn and Ron Edwards of Benkelman and Jackie and Bill Johnson of Avondale, Ariz.; five grandchildren: Justin, Brandon, Jennifer, Brodie and Destiny; two aunts, Irene Gooder of Benkelman and Gretchen Williams of Bakersfield, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Final rites for Loyal Mathews were held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997, at the Clifton Bible Chapel with burial at Clifton.