Valera Matthews

     Valera Marguerite Matthews, of Sheldon, MO, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the age of 80.

     Valera was born May 30, 1944, in Long Beach, CA to Lewis Albert and Iris Berdena (Lay) Stinson. She graduated from high school in Cole Camp, MO in 1962. She went on to pursue her Bachelor of Education from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. While in her second year there she met the love of her life, Roger Hart Matthews, who was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base.  On May 1, 1964, in Kansas City, MO, they were married.  They welcomed their daughter, Louava, in 1965. Valera’s younger brother, Lewis Albert Stinson, Jr., convinced her to go back to college and they graduated together in 1969.  While working as a teacher at Fort Osage, MO, they had their second child, Mark, in 1971. When they moved to Sheldon, MO, she taught special education and later kindergarten. She also was instrumental in the Parents as Teachers program.  Later in her teaching career she went to night classes at Pittsburg State University in order to receive her Master’s Degree.  Education was extremely important to her. She always said, “No one can ever take away your education.” She was a Christian woman with strong values and was kind to all.  She enjoyed square dancing, shopping, going to garage sales, and crocheting but the thing that brought her the most enjoyment was to be involved in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities.  Family was her life!

     Valera leaves behind her husband of 60 years, Roger Matthews; a daughter, Louava Matthews, of Sheldon, MO; a son, Mark Matthews and his wife Tricia, of Nevada, MO; grandchildren, Amber Bogart, Brittany Bolton, Michael Matthews, Tayler Matthews, and Marissa Matthews; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; a brother, Lewis Stinson Jr. and his wife Cindy, of Florissant, MO; and a sister, Orvella Bauman and her husband, Michael, of Sugar Creek, MO.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Janice Louava Stinson; and twin grandsons.

     The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the First Baptist Church, in Sheldon, MO, with burial to follow in Sheldon Cemetery.

     The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Sheldon, MO.

      Memorials may be made to Sheldon Early Childhood Education or Parents as Teachers, with Ferry Funeral Home serving as custodian.

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