John M. Matthews, 56, Had Great Love for Life

John Mason Matthews died on October 24, 2003 at the Halifax Convalescent Center in Daytona Beach after a lengthy illness. He was 56.

He was born in Gainesville, the beloved son of the late Louis J. and Cynthia P. Matthews of Palatka, Fla., and West Tisbury. He attended the Institute of Logipedics in Wichita, Kans., and later became a long-term resident of the Duval Home in Glenwood, where he collected baseball cards and teddy bears. Mr. Matthews enjoyed swimming, cycling, music and socializing; his love of life was demonstrated in his boisterous exuberance. He will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched.

Mr. Matthews is survived by his brother, Louis Jordan Matthews Jr. of Palatka; his sister, Cindy Matthews Boudreau of Macclesfield, England; half sister, Beverly Nichols of Vidalia, Georgia; aunts and uncles, Mildred and Joe Morris, Douglasville, Ga.; Jean Hiers, Las Cruces, N.M.; Natalie Williams, Elkin, N.C.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins; also his loving family of dedicated caregivers, staff and volunteers at the Duval Home, where he was affectionately called Punkin.

Flowers are gratefully accepted, or the family requests memorial contributions be made to The Duval Home, P.O. Box 220036, Glenwood, FL 32722, or to the Florida Hospital Memorial Hospice Care, 785 W. Granada Blvd., Bldg. 5, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.

Graveside services were at 2 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Oak Hill West Cemetery, Palatka with the Rev. Amos Price officiating. Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home of Palatka is handling the funeral arrangements.