Gaylord L. Matthews

Gaylord L. Matthews, 78, of Wesley died Wednesday at Trinity Living Center in Grove City.

Gaylord was born April 14, 1939, in Irwin Township, Venango County, to Charles “Willard” and June Elizabeth (Walter) Matthews.

Gaylord attended grade school in Wesley and graduated from Victory Joint School in 1957.

Gaylord was married to Elizabeth “Betty” Wike on June 24, 1961. She survives.

Gaylord started his working career on the line crew for Tasa Coal Company. He also worked as a mechanic for Fowler's Pontiac Garage in Oil City.

He started driving for his father's trucking company in 1961. In 1965, Gaylord started driving his own truck which led him to start his own trucking company, G.L. Matthews Trucking, which he owned and operated for 37 years.

Gaylord's greatest enjoyment was farming. He started driving the tractors at age seven. He enjoyed his fields full of beef cattle and growing crops. Gaylord's loves were his wife, children and his grandchildren.

Gaylord was a member of Parker City-Allegheny Valley Lodge 521 F&AM. He was also a member of Pleasantview Methodist Church.

Loved ones left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty, of Wesley; his children, Bradley G Matthews of Kennerdell, Brandy G. Ripley and her husband, Mike, of Slippery Rock, Brett G. Matthews and his wife, Crystal, of Kennerdell; his grandchildren, Shannon and her husband, Jared Bence, of Stoneboro, Michaela, Michenzie and Matthew Ripley, all of Slippery Rock, and Emily, Brooke and Zackery Matthews, of Kennerdell; Gaylord's first great-grandchild who will be here in January; his brother, Floyd C. Matthews of Stoneboro; and a sister, Shirley M. Anderson of Maine.

Gaylord was welcomed into heaven by his son, Brian G. Matthews, who died Aug. 19, 2000; his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Wilmer and Betty Wike; his brothers-in-law, W. Edward Wike and Jeff Wike; and a sister-in- law, Becky Matthews.

MATTHEWS — Family of Gaylord L. Matthews, who died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home, 109 Emlenton St., Clintonville.A Masonic funeral service will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, also at the funeral home, following visitation.Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, also at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ronald Hanky, pastor of Pleasantview Methodist Church, officiating,Interment will take place at Pleasantview Methodist Cemetery.In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations be sent to Pleasantview Methodist Church in care of Gary Wike, 728 Melvin Road, Harrisville PA 16038, or to the Alzheimer's Association of Pittsburgh, 1100 Liberty Ave Suite E 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.Friends can email condolences by visiting www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net