Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Thursday, November 13, 1997

Melvin R. Matthews

Melvin R. Matthews, 71 of Downsville, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, November 14, 1997 at Kilpatrick's Funeral Home Chapel in West Monroe with Rev. Floyd Pate officiating. burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Mr.Matthews died Tuesday, November 11, 1997 at his residence following a brief illness.

Mr. Matthews was a member of the Forest Glade Baptist Church of West Monroe and was a retired diesel mechanic with Monroe Concrete. Survivors include his wife; Mary Matthews of Downsville; daughter, Martha Clark and husband, Lesley, of Downsville; sons, Melvin A. Matthews and wife, Sandra, of Downsville and John J. Matthews and wife, Debra of Downsville, nine grandchildren: Wayne and Kristi Godbout, Danielle and Gary Spurlock, Steven Matthews, Robin and Danny Montfort of West Monroe, Jamie and Bryan Singson of Downsville, Sabrina Hemphill, Joseph Matthews, Johnathan Matthews, and Christopher Matthews all of Downsville; four great-grandchildren: Brittany Godbout, Zachary and Adam Spurlock, and Taylor Carter of Downsville; five sisters: Bessie Appleton of OK, Myrtle Manfull of AR, Bertha Robinson of Monroe, Carrie Wooten of West Monroe and Katherine Ostick of West Monroe; five brothers: Claude Matthews of New Orleans, W. T. Sant of Downsville, Joseph Sant of Downsville, George Sant of Pollock, and Claude Sant of Downsville; and 51 nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Sant, Greg Sant, Johnny Davis, Robert Roberson, and Wayne Godbout. Visitation will be from 2-9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. until time of service Friday at Kilpatrick's in West Monroe.