Walter M. Mathews, Jr

Walter M. Mathews, Jr., 84, of Montezuma, GA and Butler, GA died Monday, November 3, 2014. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Montezuma United Methodist Church. Rev. Ken Myers and Dr. Tony Caldwell will officiate. Masons, Shriners and Funeral Directors will serve as honorary pallbearers. Interment will follow in Butler Memorial Cemetery.

A native of Butler, GA, Walter graduated from Schley County High School and was a 1952 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where he was a member of Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and moved to Montezuma, GA in 1956. He owned and operated Watson-Mathews Funeral Home for forty years until his retirement in 1996 and served as coroner of Macon County for many years.

He was a member and served as president of the Montezuma Kiwanis Club in 1964, he was a member of the American Legion Post # 124 in Butler, GA, and a member of the VFW Post # 6442 in Oglethorpe, GA. Walter was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Georgia Funeral Directors Association where he served as president from 1982-1983. He was also a member of Georgia Academy of Graduate Embalmers.

Walter was a member of the Montezuma United Methodist Church and the Baracca Sunday School Class. He was a member and Past Master of Traveler's Rest Lodge # 65 F&AM, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Al Sihah Shrine Center. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth H. Mathews, his parents, Walter M. Mathews and Lura C. Mathews, a sister, Elizabeth Mathews, and a brother, Thomas F. Mathews.

Survivors include three sons, Mike Mathews and his wife, Charlane and Gary Mathews and his wife, Charlene all of Albany, GA, Tom Mathews and his wife, Angie of Montezuma, GA, a daughter. Lura Amos and her husband, Bill of Perry, GA, his grandchildren, Tracy Ethridge and her husband Allen of Albany, GA, Walt Mathews of Albany, GA, Chelsea Stewart and her husband Dylan of Montezuma, GA, Caroline Amos, William Amos and Giles Amos all of Perry, GA, and three great-grandchildren, Wade Stewart, Hunter Stewart and Lawton Ethridge.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Watson-Mathews Funeral Home in Montezuma, GA.

Flowers are welcomed but donations may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, c/o Al Sihah Shriner's Transportation Fund, 222 Mecca Drive, Macon, GA, 31206 or Montezuma United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 159, Montezuma, GA, 31063.

The family will be at Walter's residence in Montezuma.