Anita Sue Matthews

Mrs. Anita Sue Matthews, age 78, of Gladewater formerly of Pittsburg, passed away on Sunday January 16, 2022 in Gladewater. She was born September 1, 1943 in Pittsburg, Texas to Howard Hoff Attaway and Elizabeth Mae Kinsfather Attaway.

Sue loved to play bridge, never met a stranger, and loved listening to music with her husband Skeeter.  She was a majorette and drum major for the Pittsburg High School Marching Band, and a member of the Dallas Texan Dancing Team before they became known as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Her and her granddaughter Kenna developed a special bond as they both loved twirling and her granddaughter is also a majorette. Her granddaughter was her world, and kept a smile on her face, the bond they shared will live on through Kenna.

Sue Matthews was a devoted wife and a dynamic educator with 25 years teaching at Pittsburg High School. She enjoyed motivating students to discover and pursue their talents and go after BIG dreams. She spoke life into young professionals to develop their marketing, management, and entrepreneurship skills to serve in the business industry. She took it a step further as the Chapter Advisor for DECA, an organization that allowed students the opportunity to attend school learning about business and then leaving early to start their career with a job. Story after story has been told about her notorious spunk and lighthearted approach to motivating young students.  She touched thousands of people’s lives in and around East Texas, most of her involvement with extra-curricular organizations, including DECA, was done out of the kindness of her own heart. Sue even had the notorious reputation of making it a point to seek out the potential in a young student, stopping them in the hallway and telling them directly, “I think you need to Join DECA, because you CAN make it far in the organization!” She was often known to most students as “Aunt Sue.” She believed and saw potential in thousands of students over the years and the ripple effect is existing to this day. The success stories that came out of her classroom will be affecting and changing lives for a long time.  As an educator, it can be difficult to constantly find the self-motivation to stay encouraged while still encouraging others and raising a family, but she was able to do just that. The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires. Sue Matthews is and will always be an inspiring mom, wife, teacher and human. We were just lucky enough to get be inspired by her. The family would like to thank Legend Oaks Nursing Home and Heart to Heart Hospice for the care that was shown during the last year.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Marvin “Skeeter” Matthews of Gladewater; daughter, Susan Matthews of Gladewater; grandaughter, Kenna Stutsman of Gladewater; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by both of her parents; her brother, Robert Howard Attaway; and her sister, Peggy Lunsford.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday January 19, 2022 at the Erman Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Pittsburg, with Bro. Kyle Smith officiating interment to follow in New Mine Cemetery in Pittsburg. Pallbearers will be David Shelton, Sr., David Shelton, Jr., Duane Shelton, Robert Attaway, Jacob Attaway, Kyle Attaway, and Jacob Hefner. There will be a visitation held from 5:30 P.M. till 7:30 P.M. Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the funeral home.

Donations can be made in her memory to Legend Oaks Nursing Home 1201 FM 268 Gladewater, Texas 75647, or to Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation 7240 Chase Oaks Blvd. Plano, Texas 75025.