Created:
05/26/2012 08:57:36 AM
Author:
Mike Rogers
Key thought:
Father of Kay Mathews Williams passed away 5/24/2012
Comments:
Royce Dillard Mathews was one of 11 children of Carson and Etta Mathews, who were raised with love on the cotton farms and bayous of South East Arkansas and North East Louisiana. After plowing fields for neighbors and working in sawmills as a teenager, he worked for the CCC in the northern California redwoods before joining the US Marine Corps in WWII.
"Rough Dog" Mathews served proudly for over two years as a marine corporal military policeman in the Solomon Islands campaign. For the remainder of his life, he lived and raised his children upon the Corps core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
R.D. returned from WWII and married "beautiful" Bessie Marie Crowder. Together they raised four children, mostly in a house that R.D. and family members built together in 1951. It remains the family home.
He was a life-long fox hunter with a huge net work of hunter enthusiast friends, a passion he shared with his brothers, Harold and Cordell. R.D. also raised championship fox hounds, winning numerous competitions and awards in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
"Pig Iron" worked for Rock Island Railroad from the late 1940’s until the line closed in the 1980’s. For 10 years, he was "Mr. Dillard" a much loved office worker at Joe’s Tire Shop.
He was devoted to his beloved wife, Bessie Marie, for over 65 years. He raised his four children, Kay, Robin, Dwayne, and Paula with firmness, absolute love, humor, and good values. He delighted in his precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His nieces and nephews were a joy to their "Uncle Dillard." He remained friends and partners with his sisters and brothers, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. He was the best "Daddy" and best "Papaw" ever. Rest in God, job well done.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Virginia Perryman; and four brothers, M.C., Peter, Fletcher, Jerry Mathews and Cordell Mathews.
Survivors include his loving wife, Bessie Crowder Mathews of El Dorado; four children, Dwayne Mathews of El Dorado, Kay Williams (Mark) of Lexington, S.C., Robin Billings (Rodney) of Rockwall, Texas, Paula Ellis (John) of Longview, Texas, brothers, Bruce Mathews of Pencil Bluff, Harold Mathews (Sonja) of Huttig; sisters, Muriel Sturgis (Joe) of Mt. Ida, Helen Bomar of El Dorado, 10 grandchildren, Vicki Gilliam, Vanessa Tiffany, Ronnie Hardcastle, Rebecca Lewis, Sarah Froese, Amy Billings, Carson Billings, Scott Morrison, Katie Wilson and Andrew Ellis; seven great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at Young’s.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at Young’s Chapel with Harold Mathews officiating. Burial will follow at Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors. The family will welcome friends in the fellowship hall at East Main Baptist Church after the funeral services.
Memorials may be made to John R. Williamson Hospice House and Life Touch Hospice, 2301 Champagnolle Rd., El Dorado, AR 71730.
An online guest registry will be available at
www.youngsfuneralhome.com
.
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