Elizabeth Matthews

MATTHEWS, Elizabeth Mae Rice (Betty). b. Hay Springs, Neb., July 5, 1920, to Gilbert and Helen McCreath. d. Edmond, OK, Jan. 31, 2011. Betty grew up in Wyoming living on ranches near several towns including DuBois. In the late 1930s she and her mother moved to Topeka, KS, where she graduated from high school and attended business college. During WWII, Betty worked as secretary to the president of National Reserve Life Insurance Co. In 1946 she married Robert T. Rice, whom she met while he was stationed at the air base in Topeka. They first lived in Norman where Betty worked as secretary in the office of President Cross while Bob completed law school at OU. They then moved to Bob’s hometown of Edmond. They raised three sons who graduated from Edmond High School. During the 1950s and 1960s Betty was very active in Edmond’s civic and social life as a member of several organizations including Chapt. D of PEO and Cambridge Club. In 1975 she married Gen. David C. Matthews, who had recently retired as Adjutant General of the Oklahoma National Guard. For the next 21 years until his death Betty and David focused their lives on family, friends, and world travel. For the last few years of her life, Betty lived at the Touchmark retirement facility in Edmond. They were members of the First Christian Church.

Ms. Matthews is survived by her sons Bradley R. Rice (Vivian, deceased) of Madison, GA; Barry T. Rice (Arleather) of Guthrie; and Brian L. Rice (Vicki) of Sapulpa. She is also survived by stepchildren Fran Little (Richard) of Norman and Jeannie Vance (Allen) of Yukon. Her surviving grandchildren and step grandchildren are B. J. Rice (Kylee) of Edmond, Robert Rice (Emily) of Edmond, Travis Rice (Jeannie) of Madison, GA, Vera Atkinson (Neil) of Spring, TX, Joshua Rice (Jennifer) of Dallas, TX, Jessie Rice of Tulsa, Matt Watkins (Jennifer) of Sand Springs, Amie Watkins of Houston, TX, Jake Watkins of Tulsa, Sarah Vance of Oklahoma City, Joell Slavin (Ethan) of Yukon, Ryan David Matthews of Edmond, Zane Matthews Shelby of San Francisco, CA, Richard Little (Melanie) of Tulsa and Tara Little Bullard (Arlan) of Norman. David C. Matthews, Jr. is deceased. Ms. Matthews had ten great grandchildren and five step great grandchildren.

Service will be Feb. 5 at 11am at the First Christian Church of Edmond. Interment will be at Gracelawn Cemetery.

Services entrusted to the care of Baggerley Funeral Home of Edmond. www.baggerley.com