Barbara Lea Matthews

Barbara Lea (Boone) Matthews left us on April 11, 2026. She was surrounded by family and passed peacefully. The last several months were difficult, but they were an excellent example of how she lived her life – serving others was always her priority. She endured and fought to continue to be our mother and grandmother until she no longer could. Barbara was 90 at the time of her passing and a resident of Gibson, MO.

Barbara was born August 1, 1935, to Genevieve and J.B. Boone in Gibson. She was a graduate of Holcomb High School, where she met the love of her life, Gerald Matthews. They were married on September 28, 1953, and moved to Detroit, MI in search of work. They soon welcomed two children, Jerry and Linda. They decided they did not want to raise a family in Detroit and moved to Portage, IN where Gerald began a career with National Steel that spanned 30 years. Barbara rejoined the workforce once the children were enrolled in school. She served the children and staff of Central Elementary School as their Secretary for 25 years.

However, her primary job was always wife and mother. A childhood friend of her son sent a note when she fell ill last summer. It said, “Please tell your mom that while growing up in a wide (and wild!) variety of moms, you could not find a sweeter, more considerate, compassionate, and caring person than your mother.” That was an enormous but well-deserved compliment. Sweet though she may have been, Barbara and Gerald ran a household where their children were held to a high standard and were taught to work hard, respect others, and think for themselves. It is a formula that worked well and was also used to raise the next generation. Education was an excellent example. Despite not having a parent who graduated high school and never considering college for themselves, Barbara and Gerald made education a priority in their home. The decision to attend college for Linda and Jerry was as automatic as the one to go to 10th grade.

Upon retirement, Barbara and Gerald decided to return to Dunklin County. Her parents needed support, but mostly they just wanted to come home. They built a house on the land Barbara grew up on and enjoyed 24 years before Gerald passed. They took responsibility for the North Canaan Cemetery and with the help of many others were able to overcome years of neglect and restore it to a condition which honors those buried there. That will be their final resting place. Barbara lived to serve others – primarily family, but she also volunteered at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for many years. Never was her service on greater display than when she shouldered the heavy physical and emotional load to be Gerald’s loving caregiver during the final months of his life.

A song played at Gerald’s memorial included the line that one’s “greatest contributions are the ones you leave behind.” That is the legacy Barbara shares with him. They were very proud of their five grandchildren – productive adults with good values, strong families, college educations, and successful careers. Their eight great-grandchildren are young, but on the same path ... that includes their love of reading. Barbara’s parents thought she was the end of the Boone name after they lost her older brother as an infant. Nothing could be further from the truth as the families of her children and grandchildren all include at least one named Boone.

Barbara is survived by her children Jerry (Sandy) Matthews and Linda Matthews; five grandchildren Jason (Shannon) Matthews, Sean (Emily) Matthews, Stephanie Aughinbaugh (Chris Wedge), Amy (Carol) Boone, and Eric (Amy) Matthews. There are seven great-grandchildren named Matthews – Benjamin, Jackson, Gemma, Byron, Travis, Abigail, and Gavin. There is one named Boone – Kaye ... and another en route. Her sister-in-law, Marsha Matthews, has been a great friend and confidante of Barbara’s for many years. Barbara was preceded in death by her brother, Phillip, and husband of 60 years, Gerald.

The family wants to thank the many who cared for our mother and grandmother over the past several years. Neighbors have been supportive and medical professionals kept her as healthy and comfortable as possible, particularly the staff at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and Westwood Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center. Most special was her friend and caregiver, Janice Elliott, who enabled Barbara to continue living independently until near the end of her life.

Barbara wished to be cremated and buried with Gerald in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, one may send donations for the care of the North Canaan Cemetery to P.O. Box 46 Gibson, MO 63847.