Lee Matthews

Canton-Lee Ander Matthews, age 90, of 14 Bailey Street, Canton, North Carolina, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2003.

A native of Buies Creek, North Carolina, he was born April 21, 1913, and was a son of the late Neil Archie and Annie Jane Stewart Matthews. He was the last of a loving family of thirteen children who made a life on a two hundred acre farm in Harnett County. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant twin sister Ruth; sisters Ora M. Johnson of Canton and Waynesville, Ila M. Byrd of Raleigh, Margaret M. Gregory of Angier, and Annie M. Stewart of Buies Creek; and brothers C. Rollo Matthews of Raleigh, Kenneth C. Matthews of Coates, Milton B. Matthews of Buies Creek, N. Palmer Matthews of Buies Creek, O. G. (Dutch) Matthews of Buies Creek, Pescott W. Matthews of Lillington, and Dr. Hugh A. Matthews of Cullowhee.

He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Lillian Long Matthews; his daughter, Bonnie Matthews Stamey; his son-in-law, William G. Stamey, Sr., his grandson W. Gregg Stamey, Jr., and numerous nieces and nephews.

A resident of Canton for more than sixty years, Matthews was a man who loved his family, was a good citizen, loved his church and the Matthews Sunday School Class, and was a lifelong Democrat. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Canton where he was lifetime president of the Matthews Sunday School Class. He had been a member of the Canton Lions' Club where he was involved with work for the blind. He had also been a member of the Y's Men Club and Advisor for Jr. Achievement. For many years he was coach of the Lions' Club Little League Baseball Team.

An avid member of the Democrat Party, he had served as a precinct chairman for many years, as chairman of the Canton Board of Elections, chairman of the Haywood County Board of Elections, and chairman of Haywood County Jury Selection.





He had been an employee of the Wood Procurement Department of Champion International from which he had retired. During World War II, he was a member of the homeguard unit affiliated with the U. S. Army at Fort Bragg. The group's function was to train and be prepared to travel to manufacturing plants should they be attacked.

Lee also loved baseball and had been a pitcher in his youth when he played at Campbell College.

An avid lover of the outdoors, he loved gardening and took great pride in his vegetables. He also had loved to fish. He loved all children and also had a wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, May 1, 2003, at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Homes with Reverend Dr. Rick Gosnell officiating. Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at the funeral home prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to the Matthews Class, First Baptist Church of Canton, 74 Academy Street, Canton, North Carolina, 28716.

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