Gene Matthews

Gene Matthews was born on September 10, 1942 in Elk City, Oklahoma. He graduated from Cobre High School in 1960 and went on to Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico, where he met his first wife and mother of his two daughters, Donna Brown. Gene graduated from WNMU in 1966 and he and Donna settled in El Paso, Texas. Gene sold insurance before settling on his career in real estate, which began with Investors Real Estate, and after many years there he became the Broker at Future Company Realtors. He completed his real estate career as an escrow officer with Stewart Title of El Paso. Gene had a love affair with cars his entire life and after retiring from Stewart Title of El Paso, his final career was one that allowed him to immerse himself in cars. He owned and operated Special Interest Autos – buying and selling cars and car parts, a dream come true.

Over the 37 years he lived in El Paso, he made many friends, all of whom are considered a part of the family. A few years after Donna passed away in 2003, he was blessed to meet his second wife Gerry Moore. Gene and Gerry settled in Guymon, Oklahoma where Gerry had lived for many years. Gene and Gerry had many friends in Guymon who were also like family. In 2009, Gerry passed away and Gene remained in Guymon with his Guymon family.

Gene was diagnosed with lung cancer in Mid-April 2017. Faced with the reality of 6 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, he decided to receive his treatment back in El Paso so he could be close to his two daughters. Gene returned to his El Paso Family on May 15, 2017 and blessed Myla by staying at her home and allowing her to treat him as he said “like a king.” Valerie and Myla had over a month of time with Gene before he passed away peacefully on June 22, 2017 at 7:25 p.m.

Gene is survived by his two daughters, Valerie Matthews Ulery and Myla Matthews, his grandson Graeson Matthews and his granddaughter Megan Wilderman, his brother Dene Matthews and his wife Paula Matthews and their children, his brother Keith Matthews and his wife Terrie Matthews and their children, his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many family and friends, including the new friends he made with his doctors and nurses that treated him while he was in El Paso.

Services will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Martin West. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that you make donations to Hospice El Paso or the American Cancer Society in honor of Gene, Donna and Gerry.

Arrangements under the direction of Martin Funeral Home, El Paso, TX.