MATTHEWS, Lois (Finch)

Funeral services for Lois Matthews, 87, of Tulsa, formerly of Purcell, will be held Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Atterberry officiating. Interment will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City under the direction of Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell. Mrs. Matthews passed away Saturday, February 5, 2011 in Tulsa. Lois Maurine Finch was born October 25, 1923 in Boise City, Okla., the older of two daughters born to Earl Ray Finch and Bertie E. (Swaggerty) Finch. She spent her early years on the family farm in Baca County, Colo. During her high school years, she and her sister, Louise, who were affectionately known as the Finch Twins, returned to Boise City to live with their grandmother. Lois graduated from Boise City High School in 1942 and attended Panhandle Agriculture and Mechanical School in Goodwell, Okla., that summer. On August 4 of that same year, she married a young man named Allen McWoodie Matthews, the love of her life. Allen was enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp and proudly served overseas during World War II. During this time, Lois attended the Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, working towards a Home Economics Degree. When Allen returned home, they moved to Stillwater and both enrolled at Oklahoma A&M. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Oklahoma City and made their home there, where together they raised their family, a son, Phillip, and daughters, Pamela and Patrecia. Lois began working in the Oklahoma City School district. She was a Library Clerk at Star Spencer High School for many years. In 1973 Lois and Allen moved to Purcell to spend their retirement years. * Lois was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Purcell, and she served the Lord faithfully in many capacities. She was a master seamstress and an artist. She enjoyed painting and various other crafts. It was said that she could accomplish anything. She studied nutrition for many years and was generally concerned about healthy living. Lois was a loving wife and mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a good friend. Her family meant everything to her and we will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen; her parents, Earl and Bertie Finch; an infant son, Patrick Jay Matthews; her sister, Louise Thompson and two son-in-laws, Daniel Lasater and Danny Streun. She is survived by her son, Phillip Matthews and wife, Karen, of Noble; two daughters, Pam Lasater of Tulsa and Pat Streun of Oklahoma City; two granddaughters, Courtney Lasater of Tulsa and Andrea Adams and husband Jesse of Oklahoma City; two twin great-grandsons, Aiden and Connor; step-grandson, Aaron Buchannon and many other family and friends.