Minnie Florence Ferrell Mathews was born on April 18, 1930, to James Walter Farrell and Minnie Gladys Smith Farrell on their farm in Dripping Springs, Texas, the eldest of their two daughters. Minnie passed away at the age of 93 on September 29, 2023, in Garland, Texas of – as she might have put it – “old age, dammit!”, which she would have said with a grin and spry twinkle in her eye (and not a small amount of pride). She often shared fond stories of her younger years on the farm, all mostly involving her pet goat, Billy.
Minnie married her high-school sweetheart, Austin Burmia “Mat” Mathews, on November 20, 1948, and together they had four boys. Mat served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1967, leading the young Mathews family to travel and live all over the world before Mat’s final posting to Fort Polk in Leesville, LA which resulted in them residing a number of years in Central and North Louisiana. A tall woman, Minnie always loved to tell stories of riding on public transit in Japan and having everyone stare up at her in awe.
As a young, ambitious woman, Minnie studied secretarial skills in Austin and worked throughout her adulthood in a number of administrative roles. She ended her working years in the Department of Management and Marketing in what was then the College of Administration and Business at Louisiana Tech University, where she had many friends whom she asked about long after she and Mat had relocated back to Texas in 2001.
Minnie had the most exquisite penmanship. She was also an excellent cook and master of crafts, having worked in ceramics, painting, and doll-, pin-, candy- and decor-making throughout her years. Not a holiday would pass without a new, themed needlepoint piece adorning her door. Her home was always the gathering place, no matter the occasion, and she had a great passion for hosting festive celebrations for all manner of special events, including birthday parties for each of her grand- and great-grandchildren in their younger years. The family also took great pleasure in Minnie’s photography skills and photo albums.
Minnie will be remembered by her family with a healthy selection from the thesaurus (which would have pleased Uncle Dave): active, creative, empathetic, facetious, faithful, family-oriented, feisty, generous, hard-working, intuitive, joyful, kind, meticulous, (occasionally ornery), talkative, thoughtful, sarcastic, selfless, sharp, skillful, smart, spunky, a storyteller, (sometimes stubborn), quirky, and welcoming.
She is survived by a large family, all of whom she was exceptionally proud: younger sister, Billie Robinson of Seguin, TX; eldest son, Mike (Kelly) of Rensselaer, NY, and their daughters Jennifer Parker, of Opelousas, LA, Sarah Warren (Brian) of Ruston, LA, and Elizabeth Laughlin (Eric) of East Schodack, NY; second oldest son, James (Janet) of Houston, TX, and their children Jacob (Kasi) of Austin, TX and Rebecca Walkinshaw (Sean) of Boulder, CO; and grandson Chris and his mother, Susan, both of Dallas, TX. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandkids, and a host of extended family.
Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, her dear husband, Mat, and their two youngest sons, Bill and Dave.
The family sends their heartfelt gratitude to Sandra and the staff at Silver Creek Assisted Living in Garland, Texas for their many, many years of friendship and care of Ms. Minnie.
Visitation and funeral will be held at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank, Texas on Monday, October 9th, starting at 9 a.m. followed by A Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Minnie will be interred next to her husband in the Veterans’ Section of Cedar Creek Memorial Park in Mabank, Texas.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eubankcedarcreek.com for the Mathews family.
