Stephen Harry Matthews

Stephen Matthews, age 89, entered into Heaven on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Steve, as he preferred to be called, was born to Steven and Winona Matthews on May 27th, 1934 in Smith River California. He was the brother to his younger sister, Shiela. Growing up in a Northern California logging town with the Giant Redwoods, Sequoias and loggers Steve was a Northern California Country boy and often talked about his love for that part of the country. He very much loved to tell his many experiences as a young boy and his language and words were that of the country boy.

At 6 years old Steve shot his first deer and proudly brought it home to his father who meant everything to him. As he told us his stories about how he would run around barefoot all day long in the trees and bushes with animals and nature, by the age of 9 he had done much more than the average older person as far as hunting, trapping, making money from furs, fishing and many other outdoorsman and wilderness activities. His area of upbringing included lumberjacks, giant redwoods and many places that processed timber near his home which was a one room log cabin heated with a wood stove and divided with hanging partitions. His father and most relatives were all boxers and loggers.

In school, Steve excelled in scholastics and sports and was an all around athlete having many awards for the 100 yd dash, javelin, shot put, boxing, and football as a fullback. He was smart and as physically strong as they come. On a Thursday morning his father came to him and talked to him before work saying I won’t see you again Steve, be a good person and I love you. Steve was confused. At 10 am, a tree that was being felled struck a large log that was lying on the ground behind his father who had stepped behind a tree for protection. The log was struck with such force that it upended it and crushed his father against the tree in front of him killing him instantly leaving his beautiful mother widowed. Steve was 15 and his sister was 13. Steve quickly took the roll of man of the house and protected his sister and mother during a hard time. He was never afraid of anyone except one man he spoke of who he said was the biggest lumberjack he had ever seen and he forced him away from the house with his dads rifle.

In 1953 he enlisted in the Navy as the Korean War waged on. He became a Pharmacist and a Navy Corpsman. He was on multiple ships including the Newport News (CA-148). He was stationed at multiple hospitals such as Balboa Naval Hospital San Diego, Portsmouth Navy Hospital Virginia, Bethesda Navy Hospital, Anacostia Naval Air Station, the Philippines, Guam etc.. he patched up many injured marines. He retired and was honorably discharged. In 1958 he met and married his first wife Clara Marie Sunday a DC native who at the time was a bar manager at the Anchor Inn, a sailor bar in Anacostia, Maryland. She was the widow of an Air Force officer with two children Marie and George. Steve took the roll of father to them and him and Clara proceeded to have 3 more children Steven, John and Michael. As Dad, he was the father of 5 and a devoted husband and natural protector. Clara called him Husband and he called her Wife or little girl. While providing for and raising these kids his wife Clara became Ill and he took care of her up until she passed away in 1985. 

Dad continued being a very hard worker and a devoted father. In 1997 he met the mother-in-law “Dora Ortiz” of his Sons wife Viviana. Dora had become widowed in 1996 and was attending a birthday party at her son-in-laws brothers home when the two met. He said “John, is that your mother-in-Law? I said “yes” and he said “that’s a good looking woman” They fell in love and were married in April 1998 he was 64. Steve and Dora traveled the world together and had holidays at their home with family as much as possible. During this time Steve tragically lost his two oldest sons George and Steven in 2005. Steve adored Dora and she adored him. They were both involved with her passion for gardening and the yard was always beautiful. Steve built Dora a beautiful pergola in the back yard of their home. They spent many hours gardening together, talking, laughing, and watching the squirrels that Steve would feed. They were like young teenagers in love and double dating with their married children was an amazing thing, people were wondering what was going on, but it was all about love and we certainly had a lot of fun with our parents being married. Dora sadly became Ill in 2022 and Steve took care of her as he did Clara when she became Ill up till when Dora passed away in July of 2022. Both ladies were loved and cared for by Steve fulfilling the vows that he took in marriage as best he could. 

In Steve’s life all people had to take note of the man he was. Straightforward, only saying what he meant. Yes meant yes and no meant no. He was highly respected by all people he encountered and he showed respect for them. He was a person who could eat 12 plates of food, not gain weight and not try to attract attention. He was the cleanest man on the planet brushing his teeth with comet. He was a no drama man, if you needed stitches from an injury he didn’t want to hear the drama that caused it, but he would stitch you up and take care of you. He could save your life as he did a friend. He could teach you how to save your own life if badly injured. He was an extremely handsome man and women would melt at the sight of him, many would flirt with him but he was a one woman devoted man. He was a very conservative man and would walk to work, he saved water calling it taking a submarine shower, he saved energy leaving notes reminding other people to do the same, “turn off the lights”, “close the door”, he kept the thermostat at 58 in the winter. He left the house at 3 am every morning for work. He could prepare, stuff and cook a turkey better than anyone. He was a big believer in mind over matter and proved in many ways that it is true. He was meticulous, his shoes were always polished and his clothes immaculate. He never swore or cursed, he was never racially divided and treated all people with the same respect. He was a man unable to be stopped by any injury. He once broke his back, all the bones in his hips and a few weeks later was walking up and down a flight of stairs 200 times a day, up and back equals one time as he said. Steve was a very rare person and that of amazement with unmatched physical and mental strength who could tear a DC area phone book in half with his bare hands. He was a man demanding respect without having to say or do anything because his demeanor told a story. He taught the old fashion way, swimming, “in ya go” he loved watching wholesome movies such as GunSmoke and science fiction. He had the looks and voice of a movie star. He was kind and generous but of principal. He loved dogs and animals of every kind. He never allowed disrespect to his wives in anyway.. any incident at all and he would get in the face of these men showing his enormous round muscle to them and say “Ill punch you in the nose” the few men who challenge him regretted it. He was a natural in his ability to have no fear and could back it up with intelligence. Steve’s ancestry and Matthews name can be traced back to the 1500’s, the Vikings and before. Towards the end of his life his mind was still clear and we had many great conversations with him, it was the body surrounding him that just couldn’t go any further. He will be missed. 

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Steven W. Matthews and Winona Studendroff Matthews; by his first wife, Clara Sunday Matthews; by two of his sons, George M. McDowell and Steven W. Matthews; and by his second wife Dora Ortiz Matthews. 

He is survived by his children, Marie Blackman McDowell, John A. Matthews and Michael J. Matthews; by his step-daughter, Viviana M. Matthews; by his grandchildren, Regina M. Doyle, Walter S. Matthews, Christopher M. Matthews and David W. McDowell; by his great grandchildren, Faith M. Doyle, David G. McDowell, Desiree M. McDowell, and Daniel Minor; and by his sister, Sheila Bingham Matthews.

Graveside Service with Navy Military Honors will begin at 2pm on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906.