Howard Withee Mathews

Howard Withee Mathews, 89, of Scituate, passed away on April 10, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Nancy G. (Walker) Mathews, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by Nancy and his two loving sons, Kenneth of Louisville, CO, and Douglas of Ithaca, NY. Howard was predeceased by his sister Charlotte (Mathews) Brooks of Broken Arrow, Kansas. He is survived by his siblings Edwin Mathews of Chesapeake, VA; George Mathews III of Auburn, ME; Evelith (Mathews) Gillis of Denmark, ME; and John Mathews of Denmark, ME, along with many loving nieces and nephews.

The son of the late George W. Mathews Jr. and Eleanor G. (Withee) Mathews, Howard grew up on a small farm in Pembroke, MA with his five siblings. Shortly after graduating from Pembroke High School in 1954, he used his college savings to purchase and run a small cranberry bog in Pembroke to help support his family. A few years later, he purchased a second bog in Duxbury and was still paying off the mortgage when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1959, where he served as a radio operator in New Jersey and Texas. After being honorably discharged in 1961, he met his wife, Nancy, in Boston, and in 1963 they purchased and restored an old Cape Cod home in Scituate, where they raised their family and spent the rest of their lives together. While continuing to run his bogs on the side, Howard built a career with Brockton Edison (later Eastern Utilities), where he enjoyed working closely with local people and businesses as a customer service representative, electric‑heating planner, and commercial and industrial representative until his retirement in 1995. He became an active and influential member of his community, devoted to helping, mentoring, and supporting others through his involvement with the Mount Hope Improvement Society in the West End and through his membership in the First Parish Unitarian Church.

Howard found great joy in nature, and most days, he could be found in the woods walking the trails he loved—many of which he helped build, maintain, and promote. He especially enjoyed the woods surrounding the family home in Tamworth, NH, where he cleared trails as an active member of the Chocorua Mountain Club, and the conservation land around his home in Scituate’s West End, where he played a key role in the establishment and stewardship of several new preserves.

Howard’s other true love was his music. He was happiest when singing and playing guitar, ukulele, banjo, or mandolin with family and friends. As a founding member of the band Somethin’ Else, he entertained audiences throughout the South Shore, but he was most passionate about performing for residents of local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care units.

A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at the First Parish Unitarian Church on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 3 p.m. An additional celebration is being planned the following month for the West End community at the Mount Hope Improvement Society.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Howard’s memory can be made to the Scituate Food Pantry.