Etchel Matthews

EAST PRAIRIE - Etchel Matthews, 76, died at 12:18 p.m. Jan. 26, 2003, at the John Cochran Veterans Administration Medical Center in St. Louis.

Born June 4, 1926, in Bertrand, son of the late Lee and Emma Heath Matthews, he was a truck driver in St. Louis for the Jeffco Steel Company and lived in the Dogwood community since 1987. He served in the U.S. Army Tank Division during World War II.

On Aug. 11, 1950, in St. Louis, he married Marcella Thompson who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Roseann Allen-Matthews of Petty Jean Mountain, Ark.; and two sisters, Betty Bradley of Dogwood and Pauline Duke of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Nyman Matthews, J.B. Matthews and Harold Matthews.

Visitation begins at 6 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Roseann Allen-Matthews will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Dogwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

the Dogwood Methodist Church

or

Dogwood Cemetery

1644 S. Highway B

East Prairie, Mo. 63845