Stella Ann Duncan Mathews was born in Meadow, UT on May 17, 1921 to James Alonzo Duncan and Jessie Ann Barkdull Duncan. Stella celebrated her 29th birthday 71 times and passed away at the age of 100 on March 29, 2022 in Cottonwood Heights, UT.
Stella was the fifth of nine children and grew up on the family farm in Meadow. Stella attended elementary school in Meadow and later graduated from Millard High School in Fillmore, UT. She attended Brigham Young University, where she excelled in the writing of poetry, a lifelong love.
She met her sweetheart, Wilbur (Bill) Reid Mathews while living in Salt Lake. They were married in 1943 in the Salt Lake L.D.S. Temple and moved to Schenectady, NY where Bill was working as an engineer at General Electric. They were blessed with three children: Stephen Duncan Mathews, who died shortly after birth, Mary Ann Mathews Anderson and Richard Bruce Mathews.
After moving from Schenectady, they lived in Seattle, WA, Fort Worth, TX, and Los Angeles, CA before settling for 53 years in Palos Verdes Estates, CA. After her children were in school, Stella became a realtor and later opened her own brokerage, Mathews Realty. She was successful and sold many, many homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Her clients became her lifelong friends. She was president of the Women’s Council of Realtors in Palos Verdes, and served on executive committees for her board.
Stella and Bill were Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Stella held positions in her Ward and Stake. She loved her family, especially her 3 grandsons, and traveled to see and spoil them often. Stella loved poetry, gardening - especially roses - the color pink, and keeping up with world events and politics. She loved to return to her home town of Meadow to be with her family for Memorial Day gatherings. When Bill suffered a stroke, Stella became his constant companion and advocate. Even though she was legally blind, she walked to his care center daily to be with him. After Bill's passing, Stella Moved to Cottonwood Heights, UT.
Stella is survived by her children: Mary Ann Mathews Anderson, Richard Bruce Mathews, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren who will greatly miss her. The family wishes to thank the many caregivers attending her and especially Dr. Russ Anderson and Horizon Hospice. Services will be held Tues., April 5th at 11:00 at the Chapel at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT. Friends may call an hour before the service. Burial will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
