Phyllis Marie Matthews

Phyllis Marie Matthews, 89, of Annandale, Virginia, went home to be with the Lord early morning, January 27, 2023. Phyllis was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, on October 17, 1933, to Marguerite Lucille Bruce and Wilbur Lynn Easton. She was the older sister to the late Marian Louise Shedlock (Leo) and brother, Mark Anthony (Brenda). Phyllis lived in Bellefontaine until she began college at Ohio State University. It was there she met Lester Davies Hayes, Jr. (“Dave”) whom she wed in 1955. They were married for 22 years. After they divorced, she met George Allen Matthews, whom she wed in 1981. They were married for 20 years before his passing. Phyllis’ main focus in the early part of her adult life was being a supportive Navy wife and loving mother to her four children. After her children had grown, she finished her bachelor’s degree in early education at George Mason University. When she met George, they began to travel extensively throughout the world, visiting dozens of countries over the years. After George died in 2001, she began teaching at a Christian preschool, where she retired in 2005. Phyllis best expressed her emotions through the written word and spent much of her free time writing stories and poetry. But her true love was her grandchildren, whom she always made time for and loved whole-heartedly. Phyllis is survived by her brother and three children, Joy Diane Kerley (James), Douglas Mark Hayes (Roxanne), Lynne Lucille Farrell (Paul), and her stepdaughter, Stephanie Ann Matthews (Donnie Carpenter), 10 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. Her beloved daughter, Dawn Marie Shifflett (Wayne), went on to glory in 2020. Our family rejoices over Phyllis’ reunion with her loved ones who died before her, and we remain secure in our eternal hope that we will all be together again one day in heaven. Her service will be held at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA on April 8, 2023 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the organization STEP at teamstepusa.org. All are welcome to join us on April 8 as we celebrate a beautiful soul and a life well lived.