Obituary of Don Wesley Matthews

Don passed away at Capital Medical Center in Olympia, Washington, on October 13, 2014. He was born in Libby, Montana on January 25, 1926, and was the second oldest of eight children. His parents, Howard and Mabel Matthews, later moved the family to Colville, Washington, where Don stayed until joining the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. After completing Basic Training at Farragut Naval Training Station in Idaho, Don was stationed at Twentynine Palms in California, where he performed gun synchronization through airplane propeller blades. After his discharge, Don learned telegraphy and began working as a telegrapher for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Lind, Washington. From there, he went to Thompson Falls, Montana. That is where Don became acquainted with his future wife, Joanne Brockway (Jo). Jo worked as a soda jerk at her parents’ business, Brock’s Fountain, Variety, and Florist. From his window at the depot, Don admitted to watching Jo walk up the hill to school every morning during her senior year in high school. Brock’s Fountain soon became his favorite after-work hangout. Don proposed to Jo on the way home from picking her up from college for summer break, “under the biggest moon they had ever seen.” They got married on December 22, 1949, at St. John’s Cathedral in Spokane, Washington. Don’s work as a telegrapher took them from Thompson Falls to Noxon, Trout Creek, and then Spokane, where he began working as a train dispatcher for the next 17 years. In 1973, he was transferred to Vancouver, Washington. In 1983, the railroad moved all dispatchers to Seattle. Don and Jo lived on Bainbridge Island during that time. Don retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1988, and they spent the next five years travelling through the United States and Mexico in their motor-home. After returning to their home in Vancouver for a short time, they set out on the road again until September 11, 2001, when they decided it was time to come home. Don enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing. He and Jo often said the best thing about moving to western Washington was being close to the ocean beaches, and they always got their limits during razor clamming season. Every summer, they would borrow their three grandchildren for at least a couple of weeks and head out for an adventure or two in their motor-home. Over the years, they loved remembering and repeating stories about those trips. Don and Jo were members of the First Church of God in Vancouver and served for several years there as greeters. They had the opportunity to travel to Israel and parts of Europe on a trip with their pastor and a group of church members. They briefly attended Church of Living Water in Olympia, Washington. Don is survived by his wife, Jo; son, Steve (Patty); grandchildren, Tara Roybal (Esteban), John (Tamara), and Bryce (Fonda); and brothers, Ted (Dorothy) and Ed (Peggy); as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Johnny, who died at the age of 15 of Muscular Dystrophy; his sisters, Margie Barton (Lawrence), Trudy England (Bud), Ruth Reed (Clarence), Letha Hair; and his brother, Bob (Jeri). In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in Don’s name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or Mt. Hood Ski Patrol. The Matthews’ family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, and technicians at Capital Medical Center for providing such wonderful, compassionate care to Don. Please leave memories of Don or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.