Connie J. Matthews

A memorial service commemorating the long, honorable life of rancher, Connie J. Matthews, 100, of Sand Flat will be held at 2 PM Sunday at Antioch Baptist Church where he was a member. Antioch is the oldest church in Smith County. The Reverends Bennie Portwood and Craig Little will officiate. Burial will follow in the Sand Flat Cemetery. Mr. Matthews was a long time leader in the Sand Flat Cemetery Association, and he was instrumental in the work of the cemetery throughout his life. Most of Mr. Matthews' relatives who settled the community of Sand Flat, founded the Church, established a school, and developed the cemetery are buried there. Mr. Matthews died March 1, 2007 in Lindale, after a brief illness. He was born February 24, 1907 to the late Allen and Minnie Hitt Matthews. Connie Matthews lived most of his adult life in the house he built for his bride, Alma almost seventy years ago. A model of self-reliance, Connie used lumber from trees he cut down on his land, and milled on his own sawmill. He also used rocks he hauled from his land for the exterior of his home. He loved being productive himself and respected other productive people. He was a respected leader in his community and was active with friends and neighbors his entire life. Connie enjoyed dancing at least two nights a week at Big Sandy and the Senior Center at Fun Forest in Tyler. Mr. Matthews held himself to a strict code of honor all his life, but he also enjoyed the humor in life and entertained his many friends with lively stories and comments. He was honored on the occasion of his 100 birthday by Texas State Senate Resolution 163 recognizing him as a treasured citizen of the Lone Star State. Mr. Matthews was proceeded in death by his wife, Alma Buckner Matthews, sister, Mossie Matthews Hester, brother, Jack Matthews, and nephew Randy Matthews. Connie is survived by his loving family including daughters, Glenda Strum and husband Stanley of Waco and Mildred Blowen of Sand Flat; grandchildren Eric Gilchrest and wife Susan of Lafayette, LA, David Gilchrest of Lewisville, TX, and Dylan Blowen and wife Rachel of Sydney, Australia; great-grandchildren, Matthew Gilchrest, Christina Gilchrest, and Dashiell Blowen and countless relatives and close friends. Pallbearers will be Charles Wilson, Carroll Thompson, James Stovall, Dexter Hadjison, Ted McDowell, and Dan Hamilton. Honorary pallbearers will be Leon Neely, Marvin Stovall, Louis "Mutt" Burleson, J.B. McKenzie, James Coulter and Ras Pool. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Saturday, March 2 at Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home, 206 W. South Street, Lindale, Texas 75771. Memorials in honor of Connie J. Matthews may be made to the Sand Flat Cemetery Association, c/o Ted McDowell, 1630 CR 313W, Tyler, Texas 75706 or the Red Springs-Sand Flat Community Center, 2381 FM 16 E, Tyler, Texas 75706.

Connie J. Matthews

February 24, 2007 - March 1, 2007