Mrs. Laura Mae Matthews

Mrs. Laura Mae Matthews passed peacefully into her next life on Thursday, November 19th, 2015 after battling illness for several months. She was born January 10, 1928 in Natchez, Mississippi (Adams County). The youngest daughter of Mr. Earl and Mrs. Elisa (Scales) Davis, she spent many a day and night at church with her family and she knew and accepted Christ at a very young age and instilled this love of Christ in her own children. For the rest of her life, as long as she was able, Laura would get on her knees to pray every night, she would say she was “heading to the roundhouse”. At age 18, she married her high school sweetheart, Lonnie B. Matthews, Jr. As their family grew, they decided to head north in 1957 eventually settling in Kalamazoo, MI by way of Chicago, IL. They found a church home at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church under the direction of founder Reverend Mabry Gardner in which she and her family were very active. Laura worked for Kalamazoo County for 33 years and the last 30 were at the Juvenile home until her retirement in 1993. Her love for family and tireless devotion made her a pillar for many. She enjoyed baking cookies, breads and making candy during Christmas time. Playing badminton, kickball and softball at the family gatherings and would spend her evenings and Saturdays watching Westerns and Soap Operas and loved to play cards or solitaire now and then. She is preceded in death by her parents Earl Davis, Sr. and Elisa Scales Davis; her sister Mary Jones, her husband, Lonnie B. Matthews, Jr.; a daughter Henrietta Matthews, a son Lonnie B. Matthews, III; 3 grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. She leaves to cherish her memories daughters, Lynel M. Hackley, Mary Alice (Earl) Pratt, Celia (Larry) Davis and Barbara A. Matthews all of Kalamazoo and Irma L. Matthews of Kansas City, KS; A son, Loren Darryl Matthews of Kalamazoo and a special daughter, Gloria (Arthur) Poplar of Atlanta, GA; a brother Earl (Erma) Davis, Jr. of Chicago, IL and a brother in-law, Arcell Matthews of Southfield, MI. She also leaves 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Laura who was affectionately known as “Mama Dea” or “Dea” as well as “Chief” and “Grams” was devoted to her family all of her life and we know her spirit will peacefully live on through all those who know and love her for the special person that she was. Special thanks to Dr. Gary Ruoff and Westside Medical center, Pharmacist Brian Hansen and Westside Pharmacy, the staff at Medilodge Nursing Home, Fresenius Medical Care/Kalamazoo-East and Dr. Robert Williams and Advanced Cardiac Healthcare.

Mrs. Laura Mae Matthews

January 10, 1928 - November 19, 2015