Shirley Ann Mathews

Shirley Ann Mathews, 89, of Fort Smith, AR, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She was born on March 22, 1936, in Denning, AR to the late Jay McClellan and Daisy Yother McClellan. She later married Rex Eugene Mathews on July 3, 1955.

Shirley graduated from the Sparks School of Nursing in 1953; she worked at Sparks ICU for many years and eventually went to work for Dr. R.L. Sherman at Ft. Smith OB/GYN Associates for 20 years, until her retirement.

Not only did she have a servant heart and willingness to help others; she loved her family with the same fierceness & selflessness. There truly wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for them. She was constantly cooking and feeding those that would gather at her table, from Sunday family dinners to the special birthday dinners prepared for each and every one of her children and grandchildren. No meal was complete without one of her homemade cakes, or famous banana pudding.

She never lost her youthful spark, staying just as active and beautiful well into her later years. She was still going to the gym and actively playing with her great-great-grandchildren. You would never have known she was about to turn 90 by looking at her.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Smith, and taught Sunday school at Evangel temple in the 1980’s. One thing is for sure, if you didn’t know Jesus, you would by the time you left her presence! She truly loved the Lord and wanted to make sure that you knew Him too. Our family prays that you too have a Shirley in your life to guide you & lead you to saving knowledge of Him!

In addition to her parents, Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Rex Mathews.

She is survived by her daughter, Vickie Miller of Fort Smith; two sons, Steve Mathews (Sheila) and Derek Mathews (Christi), both of Fort Smith; her sister, Shelva Goodwin of Fort Smith. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Allen Miller (Amanda), Kyle Mathews, Jesse Mathews, Amanda Hartgraves, Noah Mathews, and Jeremiah Mathews, along with 9 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Family will greet friends from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Edwards Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 12:00 pm Monday, March 9, 2026, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.