Obituary of Joanne Marie Matthews

Joanne M. “Jo” Matthews passed away on November 3, 2014, at Garden Courte Memory Center in Olympia, Washington. She must have been eager to join her husband, Don, who passed away just 21 days earlier on October 13, 2014. Jo was born in Missoula, Montana, on October 18, 1930, and was a survivor from the start. She was born two months premature and weighed a little over three pounds. Because they had no incubators, the hospital sent her home to, in her own words, “make it or not.” Her parents, Duthie and Phyllis Brockway, took turns sleeping in order to watch her around the clock. Her mother fed her from an eyedropper during the first few weeks, until she became strong enough to take nourishment on her own. Later in life, Jo survived both breast cancer and Lymphoma. Growing up, Jo was particularly close to her grandmother, Ann Brockway, whom she lovingly referred to as “Granny.” Jo was especially proud when “Granny” was elected Mayor of Libby, Montana, although most people thought this was because she also managed the liquor store. As a teenager in Butte, Montana, Jo was once asked to babysit for a family that never seemed to be able to keep a sitter. Because of Jo’s positive “can do” attitude, she agreed to take the job; however, over the course of the evening, dealing with “little Robbie” proved to be more challenging than she had anticipated. Jo ended up joining the long line of sitters who never went back again. Robbie’s full name was Robert Craig Knievel, Jr., who later became known as “Evel” Knievel. During her senior year in high school, Jo worked as a soda jerk in her parents’ soda fountain, in Thompson Falls, Montana. It was there that she met her husband Donald Matthews. Don and Jo were married on December 22, 1949, at St. John’s Cathedral in Spokane. Don came from a family of eight children and, having been an only child, Jo said she was thrilled to suddenly have so many wonderful brothers and sisters, who welcomed her into their family with open arms. Don’s job with the Northern Pacific Railroad took them from Thompson Falls to Noxon, Trout Creek, and then Spokane. In Spokane, they raised two sons, Johnny and Steve. At age three, Johnny was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Although Jo was devastated by the news, she made it her mission for the next 12 years to keep life as happy and normal as possible for her two boys. Jo began participating in fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and became even more active after Johnny’s death at age 15. Don’s job as a train dispatcher later took them to Vancouver, Washington, and finally to the Seattle area. During that time, Jo volunteered at the food bank, Helpline House, on Bainbridge Island. When Don retired in 1988, they returned to their home in Vancouver. In 2008, Jo and Don moved from Vancouver to Olympia, where they spent the next six years. Jo is survived by her son, Steve (Patty); grandchildren, Tara Roybal (Esteban), John (Tamara), and Bryce (Fonda); cousins, Donald Breiner and Jeff Miller (Cheryl); brothers-in-law, Edward Matthews (Peggy) and Ted Matthews (Dorothy), as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, and son, Johnny. Please consider making a memorial donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jo’s family would like to thank Providence Hospice and the many wonderful caregivers at Capital Place and Garden Courte Memory Care Center. We will miss Jo’s beautiful smile and quick wit. Now she laughs with the angels. Please leave memories of Jo or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.