Ira J. Matthews Jr.

Ira J. Matthews Jr., of Prairie Grove, Ark., passed away Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 in Fayetteville. He was born July 11, 1927 in Shawnee, Okla., to Ira J. Matthews Sr. and Margaret Tynes Matthews. He liked to say he spent most of his life "in the service." That was because he was in the military 24 years and served in leadership roles in several churches for many more. His comment about the military was always the same: Give the country no less than you give your family, because you wouldn't have peace in either one without the other. He left Shawnee in 1928 and was raised in rural Vandervoort, Ark. Dad had a classical country education, i.e., he learned to fix anything with an engine and most things without one. He learned how to work hard, shut up and listen, and give an honest account of himself when he failed. He was demanding of his family but loved them all unconditionally. He was a devout Christian and surrounded himself and his family with others who respected the Bible and its teachings. In his middle age and to his kids' great surprise, he mellowed a bit and continued his education in life lessons, politics, and grudging acceptance of teams not named Razorbacks. He was not wealthy, but he "loaned" money to people who asked him for it and more than a few who didn't. I don't remember him asking for any of it back, but his own debts were promptly paid. He was a good neighbor who would cut your grass when he cut his, and when he got too feeble to climb on his mower, his neighbors cut his grass without ever saying a word. That's how country neighbors respect each other. Dad was an outdoorsman who learned to fish in the Cossatot River, hunted in the woods of Polk County, and never took even one more than his legal limit of any kind of game. He taught us to eat what we shot or caught or quit shooting or catching it. In his seventies, he cut, raked and square-baled hay across much of Washington County. He pounded (by hand) steel fence posts through his pastures at 72 and drove the Alcan Highway at 74. Ira was a natural athlete; he averaged over 200 bowling right-handed until he cut off his right thumb building a picket fence for Mom... whereupon he started bowling left-handed and soon averaged 210 with that hand. I saw him kick a football with either foot and he learned to play passable golf at 65. He fought in the Korean War and spent a year in Thailand during the Vietnam War, but I never heard him talk about either experience other than to say he wasn't going to talk about it. I do have early memories of saluting the flag with him - he knew how to and never forgot. He liked to watch the birds at his many feeders and was keenly interested to see when the first Purple Martin scout would show up. His Martin houses had many rooms and they were always full of tenants. Ira is survived by two sons, Duane and Dennis, and one daughter, Diann, as well as their spouses. His loving wife, Irene, also survives and has been his rock these last 20 years. Dad is also survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The blended Matthews/Kinzer family continues to be one of mutual help and kindness and is a source of comfort to all those left behind. Our mother, Lanore, and our sister, Donna, passed before Dad, but he will be buried near both. Lanore and Ira were married for 51 years at her passing in 1997. Our thanks to so many who visited Dad, brought them food and kindness, and lightened the burden on Irene through these last months. In lieu of flowers, please remember the Meals on Wheels program at the Prairie Grove Senior Activity Center, 475 Ed Staggs Drive, Prairie Grove, Ark. 72753, and Dad's beloved second family at the Prairie Grove Church of Christ, 309 East Parks St., Prairie Grove, Ark. 72753. Ira has gone to lie down with his fathers and will rise up to walk in the hay fields of heaven where his own Father has prepared a house fit for him. Visitation will be 5–7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 at Moore's Chapel. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Prairie Grove Church of Christ under the direction of Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville. To place an online tribute, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.