Geraldine Matthews

Katherine Geraldine (Ford) Matthews, 102 year old Grove resident, went to be with the Lord on June 17, 2021.  Geraldine was born in Maysville, AR at the farmhouse on September 11, 1918.  She was born to Gilly Young Ford and Laura Ellen (Foreman) Ford.  She moved to Grove in 1929 and homesteaded where the Grove Regional Airport is.  She gave her heart to Jesus at 12 years of age and received the Holy Ghost & Fire at 17 years old.  Her family helped establish the First Assembly of God Church in Grove.  She worked at Grove General as a nurses aid the day it first opened.  In 1966 she graduated LPN training at NEO in Miami, OK.  She worked at 3 nursing homes in Grove and 1 in Jay for 15 years total before retiring.  She also worked in home health, volunteered at Grand Lake Villa and Grove Nursing Center, the Free Medical Clinic, as well as volunteered at the Christian Mission Thrift Store.  She was a member of the Disabled American Veteran’s Auxiliary since 1968 and served as a former commander.  She was also very firm in her convictions in politics and religion.

Preceding Geraldine in death are her parents, husbands Leroy Buckett and Lee Mathews, son Terry Dale Wise, granddaughter Ivy Bacon, and siblings: Sally Potter, Lily Wildhaber, Alta Lee Bodenstein, Orval James Ford, Patsy Ailene Berry, Mildred Ford.  Survivors include her granddaughter Heather Caselman and husband Matthew, great grandson Drake and Zachary Caselman, in the words of Geraldine “a bunch” of nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as a host of friends.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at the Worley Luginbuel Chapel.  Funeral services will be 10 a.m., June 23, 2021, also at the Worley Luginbuel Chapel.  Interment will follow at Butler Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Meal on Wheels program: DOC Services, 145 E O”Daniel Parkway, Grove, OK 74344