Shirley (Neves) Matthews Obituary (1928

On September 20th, 2017 at 9:17AM, our Mother, Shirley Neves Matthews, took her last breath and quietly passed away from this Life. It was a warm, sunny, fall morning. Words don't begin to describe her kindness, greatness, and inherent goodness; she will be greatly missed by all. We are sure that she was met by her life-long love, Robert J., and her Father, Mother and family. Shirley was born outside of the small Wyoming town of Burlington, on the 5th of August 1928, the 5th of 9 children. Growing up in the harsh, windswept Bighorn Basin provided plenty of opportunities for hard work, self-reliance, faith, and struggle. Shirley attended Burlington High School, graduating with honors while serving as senior class president, head of the pep club, and editor of the school paper, all while playing in the band and on the basketball team. She also learned to love dancing. She attended the University of Wyoming on a scholarship for several years, interrupting her studies to serve as a missionary to the Texas-Louisiana Mission, serving primarily in Brownsville, TX and along the Mexican border. There she gained a life- long love of the Mexican people and the Spanish language. Following her mission, Shirley moved to Evanston, Wyoming with her older sister Dorothy. It was there, while serving as a Stake Missionary, that she met the love of her life, Bob (Robert J.). They were married on the 28th of May, 1954, and together they shared a marvelous life, living in Soda Springs, ID; Santa Monica, CA; Edgemont, UT; and finally Lindon, UT, where they have lived for the past 50 years while raising four children: Camille, Daniel, Robert, and Tricia. Shirley was an avid gardener her entire life, well known for her tomato plants, but her real gardening passion was her roses. She was a long time member of the American Rose Society and at one time raised over 200 different species of roses. One of her greatest desires was to make the "the desert rejoice, and blossom as the rose." Shirley was an active participant in local politics and passionately shared and defended her belief in the greatness of America and the pursuit of Freedom. Shirley served faithfully her entire life for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a wide variety of callings and capacities. One of her greatest joys was serving with her husband as the Matron of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. Shirley is survived by her sisters: Carol Wayment (Roy, UT) and Lillian Yearsley (Pocatello, ID); her children: Camille Lynne (Lindon, UT), Daniel Roland (Frederick, MD), Robert David (Spanish Fork, UT), & Tricia Nicole Lucas (Lindon, UT); and her 22 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. We would like to thank the wonderful people at Aspen Senior Care, Orem, UT and Dr. Douglas Mower for their kind and gracious service. We are also grateful for the benevolent care of Olpin Mortuary, Pleasant Grove, UT. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 25, 2017 at the Lindon 6th Ward Chapel, 56 E. 600 N., Lindon, UT. . A viewing will be held Sunday evening, September 24, 2017 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 S 300 E, Pleasant Grove, UT and Monday from 9:30 -10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Lindon City Cemetery, 550 N. 200 E., Lindon, UT following the service. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.