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Note: l Mathews in Jonesboro, LA. He lost his battle with Alzheimer's on Tuesday, July 20, 2010.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Ellen Mathews Layfield; two brothers, Arnold Mathews and Jimmy Williams; and two sisters, LaRue Jones and an infant sister, Mauvaneen. His father and mother-in-law, Frank Wray and Lela Brunson also preceded him.
Armed is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sarah Brunson Mathews; two sons, Armed Murrell (Rel) Mathews, Jr. and wife Salena; Francis Neuton (Frank) Mathews and wife Brenda; one daughter, Karen Mathews Myers and husband Joey; and one son-in-law, Randy Layfield. He is survived by five grandsons: Damon Wray Mathews and wife Kerrie; Matthew Layfield, Frank Wray Mathews, Brian Myers, and Daniel Myers; and four granddaughters: Cherie' Mathews Odom and husband James; Virginia Mathews Wigley and husband Shane; Catherine Layfield Semmes and husband Bobby, and Jessie Mathews Kyle and husband Drew. Also surviving are twelve great-grandchildren: Aaron Cordaro, Nathan Cordaro, Melissa Mathews, Emma Semmes, Khloe Wigley, Blaine Wigley, Faith Odom, Lily Kate Odom, Mathew Odom, Slade Kyle, Cameron Kyle, and Dylan Kyle.
After graduating from Jonesboro-Hodge High School in 1943, Armed became a first class welder while working at Brown Shipyard in Houston. In September 1944, he joined the United States Navy and served as signalman on the LCSL86—one of the "The Mighy Midgets"—the 130 ships that performed picket duty to protect the "Big Boys"—battleships and carriers in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. After an honorable discharge in June 1946, Armed joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at James Connelly Air Force Base as a personnel supervisor for the next four years. He played football for the Air Force team and coached several Little League baseball teams in Waco. This was where his love of coaching began. He returned to Jonesboro and completed his B.S. in education at Louisiana Tech.
He accepted his first teaching position at Mangham High School where he also worked as Athletic Director, head football coach, track coach, baseball, and assistant basketball coach. In 1957, his third year of coaching, he and his team, the Mangham Dragons, won the Class B State Championship—the first and only state championship for Mangham High School.
He was certified to teach every academic subject and decided to leave football and concentrate on teaching—his passion. He moved his family to Jonesboro where he taught the next twenty-five years at Jonesboro-Hodge High School and Grambling State University. After retirement, he continued to teach in schools throughout North Louisiana and southern Arkansas until his declining health forced him to give it up in 2004.
Services will be at Edmond's Funeral Home, Jonesboro, on Thursday, July 22, 2010, at 10:00 A.M. with internment/graveside at Lynn Cemetery in Archibald, Louisiana at 2:00 P.M. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 21, 2010, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Edmond's.
Pallbearers are grandsons: Damon Mathews, Frank Mathews, Matt Layfield, Brian Myers, Danny Myers, Bobby Semmes, James Odom, Shane Wigley, and Drew Kyle.
Edmond's Funeral Home
Jonesboro, LA
Published in The News Star on July 22, 2010 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=armed-murrell-mathews&pid=144216759#sthash.uRg4qK5D.dpuf
Note: Armed Murrell Mathews, Sr. was born September 13, 1926, to John Neuton Mathews and Evie Bel
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