Rex Eugene Mathews

Rex Eugene Mathews, 91 of Fort Smith, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2024. He was born on October 2, 1932 in Tulsa, OK to the late Eugene and Nellie Schoeppey Mathews. Rex served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Sierra during the Korean War. He joined the Fort Smith City Police Department and was a motorcycle officer seven years and became Sergeant over patrol before he retired. He went on to serve as a U.S. Marshal, and worked the western district of Arkansas before transferring to the Department of Defense with a total of 33 years in law enforcement. He and his wife Shirley were members of First Baptist Church, where Rex served as a deacon. Rex enjoyed a good game of dominos, reading western novels and listening to live music at the Little O’ Oprey in West Fork.

Summers were spent at Lake Tenkiller camping and skiing with family, and he never missed a trip to deer hunt and most enjoyed his time in camp with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons. He spent hours at his farm in Pocola and was still climbing ladders and cutting down trees at the age of 89.

Family meals at Rex and Shirleys always began with a prayer of blessing by Rex and ended with his favorite dessert, banana pudding, made by his love Shirley. Stories told about Rex by family and friends always describe a man of much larger stature than he actually was. The word “Rock” is most often used, and while he was one of the toughest men we’ve ever known, he was also one of the kindest. He truly was the “Rock” of our family.

A quote by his favorite author Louis L’Amour gives perspective to the grief we are feeling:

“When I die, remember that what you knew of me is with you always. What is buried is only the shell of what was. Do not regret the shell, but remember the man. Remember the father.”

In addition to his parents, Rex is preceded in death by two brothers, Neal Mathews and Glen Mathews.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years Shirley, of the home; a daughter, Vickie Miller of Fort Smith; two sons, Steve Mathews (Sheila) and Derek Mathews (Christi), both of Fort Smith; three sisters, Mary Allbriton of Spiro, OK, Janice Waters (Eddie) of Siloam Springs, AR and Linda Dix (Joe) of Arkoma, OK; six grandchildren, Allen Miller (Amanda), Kyle Mathews, Jessie Mathews, Amanda Hartgraves (Robert), Noah Mathews and Jeremiah Mathews. He is also survived by nine great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Visitation and funeral service will be on Tuesday, May 28th, with the visitation starting at 9:00 a.m. followed by the service which will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 609, Fort Smith, AR 72902, or go to www.fsfbc.org.