John Pope Matthews Jr.

JOHN POPE, (“JACK”) MATTHEWS, JR., age 83, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2016. Jack was born in Little Rock, December 7, 1933, the son of John P. and Martha Dawson Matthews. Jack graduated from Little Rock Catholic High School and Springhill College in Mobile, Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1955. Continuing his studies, in 1970, Jack obtained a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from the Institute at San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. He loved to write and was a published poet. Following graduation from college Jack joined his father at The John Matthews Company in North Little Rock where for many years they worked side by side on the development of the Lakewood residential subdivision in North Little Rock and the Springhill Farms commercial and industrial subdivision in North Pulaski County. Later, Jack began working for the Arkansas Parks and Tourism Department as its first Travel Director. The position allowed Jack to work as a writer; a job he loved more than any of his many pursuits, as it permitted him to travel the state, meet and become friends with a wide variety of Arkansans who were involved in the tourism industry and promoting the tourism industry in his home State. For 37 years Jack was married to the former Rosemary Kordsmeier. Rosemary, better know to her many friends as “Pudge,” passed away in 1999. Jack and Rosemary were familiar figures in local charities. He served on the board of directors for Central Arkansas Food Bank and St. Joseph’s Orphanage in North Little Rock and taught scripture study at Holy Souls for many years where his class was always full of lively participants who enjoyed the way Jack made the Scriptures resonate in their daily lives. Two children were born of their marriage, Lisa Matthews Clark (Mike), of Bentonville, Arkansas and Anne Walker Matthews of Hernando, Mississippi. Both children survive their Dad along with Lisa’s three children, Bernard Justin Clark, Margaret Jean Clark and Mary Claire Clark. On February 24, 2001 Jack married the former Jewele Marice Jones of Little Rock. Their 16 years of marriage were highlighted by Jack’s work as a real estate agent, their travels, and continuing his work with local Catholic charities and spending a lot of time with their two big dogs, “Ambrose” and “Gus.” Jack is survived by his wife, Jewele, along with her children, Christopher Jones (Jayme), and Monique Larsen. Jack is also survived by his two brothers, James Purnell Matthews of Roland and Charles Dawson Matthews (Candyce) of Hot Springs, and his sister Catherine Matthews Martin of Little Rock. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10a.m. Friday, December 30th at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 North Tyler Street, Little Rock. Visitation and Rosary will precede the Mass at 9:00 a.m. Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth. The family wishes to thank the nurses at CARTI , his caregiver, Jerome Johnson, and the caregivers at Hickory Heights Health and Rehab. In honor of Jack, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic High School for Boys, Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.