Obituary for Joseph Samuel Matthews
Joseph Samuel Matthews, 86, of Platte City, Missouri died April 18, 2023 at St. Luke’s Hospice House. Joe was born in Beeville, Texas on June 12, 1936 to William Kenneth and Dora Deane Matthews. He grew up in Lampasas and Burnet, Texas and graduated from Burnet High School in 1954. In Burnet he met his life-long love Leldon Rose Hammond, and they married on September 8, 1956. Joe graduated from the University of Texas-Austin in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He worked as an Engineer for the U.S. Corps of Engineers and after the Department of Housing and Urban Development was created in 1966, he began working as an Engineer for the Department and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1970 with Leldon and their three children, Kathy, Ken, and Bill.
In 1971, Joe and his family moved to Platte County, Missouri to begin his future career as a farmer. He became a full-time farmer in 1984 as he “retired” from government employment. Besides farming, Joe was active with Weston Water District #2 for decades, serving as a board member and president, and with several committees at the Weston United Methodist Church.
Joe was smart, thoughtful, and generous, a devoted husband and partner, father, grandfather, and friend. Joe was preceded in death by his son Bill and his parents William Kenneth and Dora Deane Matthews. He is survived by Leldon, his wife of 66 years, his sister Barbara Bird, daughter Kathy and partner Jenny, his son Ken and wife Kathie, and grandchildren Caleb, Luke, Joshua, Rebekah, Jessica, Nichole, and Mia.
We will miss his intelligence, love, and humor greatly. Our family is especially grateful for the good care Joe received at the Neuroscience Institute at St. Luke’s Hospital and at St. Luke’s Hospice House.
Visitation and memorial service will be at Weston United Methodist Church on Friday April 28, 2023 with visitation at 10:00 AM and memorial service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Weston United Methodist Church, 533 Main Street, Weston, MO 64098.
In 1971, Joe and his family moved to Platte County, Missouri to begin his future career as a farmer. He became a full-time farmer in 1984 as he “retired” from government employment. Besides farming, Joe was active with Weston Water District #2 for decades, serving as a board member and president, and with several committees at the Weston United Methodist Church.
Joe was smart, thoughtful, and generous, a devoted husband and partner, father, grandfather, and friend. Joe was preceded in death by his son Bill and his parents William Kenneth and Dora Deane Matthews. He is survived by Leldon, his wife of 66 years, his sister Barbara Bird, daughter Kathy and partner Jenny, his son Ken and wife Kathie, and grandchildren Caleb, Luke, Joshua, Rebekah, Jessica, Nichole, and Mia.
We will miss his intelligence, love, and humor greatly. Our family is especially grateful for the good care Joe received at the Neuroscience Institute at St. Luke’s Hospital and at St. Luke’s Hospice House.
Visitation and memorial service will be at Weston United Methodist Church on Friday April 28, 2023 with visitation at 10:00 AM and memorial service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Weston United Methodist Church, 533 Main Street, Weston, MO 64098.