Clifford Matthews

Clifford William Matthews

With family at his side, on Saturday, January 8, 2011, Clifford Matthews passed away at Portage District General Hospital at the age of 93 years.

He was predeceased by his wife Isabel (nee Ferguson); sister Vera Stephens; brother-in-law Jack Ferguson and his wife Evelyn; and sister-in-law Margaret Semrick and her husband Harry.

Cliff's memory will be cherished by his children Laurie and Andy with grandchildren Laura Dawn and Brett Clapham of Winnipeg, Ryan and Tracey of Winnipeg and Nancy Joan and Jim Drinkwater of Glenboro; Craig and Nancy with grandchildren Adrienne and Ken Matthews-McCulley of Portage la Prairie and Lesley Anne and Andrew MacLaughlin of Calgary, AB; Bob and Donna with grandchildren Christopher of Winnipeg, Thomas of Winnipeg and Pamela Mulder-Matthews of Portage la Prairie and Barry and Bill of Vancouver, BC; great grandchildren Ryan and Jack Clapham, Tressa and Isla Matthews, William Drinkwater, Ava and Benjamin Matthews-McCulley, Scott MacLaughlin, Cadence and Autumn Matthews-Halajeski; sister-in-law Jessie and Bill Carson and many nieces and nephews.

Cliff was born on July 28th, 1917 in Portage la Prairie, MB. He attended Beaconsfield School in Rignold. He met Isabel (Ferguson) in 1940 and they married on February 26th, 1943. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage. Cliff and Isabel resided on their farm in the Rignold District until they moved to Portage in 1969.

Cliff enjoyed farming and all it involved. In later years, Cliff and Isabel enjoyed golf, curling and traveling. They enjoyed over 25 years of winter vacations in Victoria with friends.

Cliff was a member of Portage Oddfellows Lodge # 3. He was Grand Master of the Manitoba Oddfellows Lodge from 1981 a�" 1982. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Golden Links Care Home in Winnipeg. Cliff was instrumental in the construction of the Portage Oddfellows Towers. He enjoyed many years of working and helping out at the Towers including many Saturday Bingos until the fall of 2010. Cliff was an active member of Trinity United Church.

Celebration of Cliff's life will be held at Trinity United Church on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 2:00 pm led by Rev. Beth Kerr.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Cliff's memory to Trinity United Church Memorial Fund, 15 Tupper Street S., Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1W7 or Central Plains Cancer Care Services, 318 Sask. Ave.E, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N OK8.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com