Stephen Matthews

Stephen Clark Matthews, the joy of our lives, went Home to be with his Savior on Sunday, December 26, 2021, on the Feast of Saint Stephen, after having lived a life full of love, laughter, music, and faith. He was the life of every gathering whether big or small, bringing laughter with his humor and wit, and creating joy with the music he loved sharing. He was a man of God, full of gratitude for every moment spent with those he loved.

Steve was born in Springfield, Missouri on August 10, 1934, the first child of Clark McQuary Matthews and Anna Catherine Cussen Matthews. Steve spent his childhood years accumulating friendships that would, ultimately, last a lifetime. As a young boy, he learned to play the clarinet.  His fondest childhood “musical” memory was playing the clarinet at age eleven in the Springfield Boy Scout Band while marching proudly in President Harry Truman’s Inauguration Parade in Independence, Missouri. He became an accomplished clarinetist, earning the position of First Chair Clarinetist in his high school band, the Fort Worth All City Band, and the Dallas Fort Worth All City Orchestra. He attended college at the University of Texas in Austin where he continued to excel in music. Although he was an accomplished clarinetist in the formal “orchestral” setting, his true passion was adlibbing old classic ballads and Dixieland jazz pieces where he always welcomed a piano, ukulele, or vocal accompaniment. Over his lifetime, he played at many a piano bar, enthralling patrons with his extraordinary musical talent and just-as-extraordinary personality and character. Additional musical passions were playing his ukulele and singing barbershop harmony. As a youth, he would sing and play his “uke” for the public in Galena, Missouri, where he and his family spent time in the summers with his grandparents. In his young adult years, and throughout his life, he sang in barbershop quartets and choruses, one of which was ranked in the top 5 men’s barbershop choruses in the world.

At the age of eleven, Steve welcomed a new baby sister into the world, Martha Lee, and in 1949, the family moved to Fort Worth, Texas. In 1956, a friend of Steve’s planned a “blind” double-date. When Steve’s friend showed him a picture of his upcoming date, he recognized her as a young lady he had been admiring in church for a time … yes, church! Their date was on December 25th, Christmas night, and was filled with mishaps (which were extremely humorous later, but probably not at the time), yet, when his lovely date, Mary Beth Minahan, went home that Christmas night, she looked in the mirror and said, “I’m going to marry that man.” Steve and Mary Beth were married a year-and-a-half later in 1958 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Steve began his distinguished career in 1955 when he entered the United States Air Force as an Aviation Cadet, graduating as a Navigator and 2nd Lieutenant, July 20, 1956, after which he was assigned to B-36 Bombers at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, TX. After taking one of the last B-36 bombers to the “boneyard” in late 1957, he was assigned to B-52 Upgrade Training, and the unit moved to Altus AFB in Oklahoma, where he and Mary Beth started a family with the birth of Patricia Ann in 1959 and Stephen Clark, Jr. in 1960.

In 1965, Captain Matthews was assigned to Thailand where he served as Administrative Executive Officer to the Commander, providing control of the Air War over North Vietnam. His subsequent tours included Wiesbaden, Germany, Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX, and Lowry AFB in Denver, CO, where he retired in 1977 as a Lieutenant Colonel. While in San Antonio, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Psychology at the University of St. Mary’s. In Denver, upon retirement from the military, Steve served many years with Mile High United Way, generating funds for much needed services in Colorado and beyond. He, subsequently, sold real estate for many years, eventually partnering with his Mary Beth as Broker Owner of Matthews Team Realty in 2001 until their retirement.

Steve’s last three decades of life were deeply enriched as the family expanded with marriages and grandchildren, more available time to delve deeply into the Bible and his faith, and time spent with family, friends, and his continued passion for his clarinet, “uke”, and singing. His number one joy, however, was his beloved Mary Beth. Their 63 years of marriage was filled with love and living life to the fullest together. He adored her and cherished all she gave, and all she was, to him. Theirs is a love that will last for eternity.

Those closest to Steve knew a man who was perpetually filled with gratitude and appreciation for times spent together and for the simplest things in life. He always expressed his love for us and, “It just doesn’t get any better than this”, was often the phrase we would hear from him in both the big and small moments of our lives together. He will be remembered by all for his wonderful sense of humor, the good, attentive, loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend he was, and for the joy, laughter, and fun he radiated to those who were a part of his life. When he walked into a room, he filled it. His presence and his essence will be missed beyond words, but, his family and friends, with Blessed Assurance, take comfort in knowing that, as he entered the Heavenly Realm, he was welcomed with words we all hope to hear one day: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Mt 25:23)

Steve leaves behind a family, grateful beyond words, for the gift of love and life he gave each of us: his beloved wife, Mary Beth Matthews of Littleton, CO; his daughter, Trish and husband, Mark Kreutz of Highlands Ranch, CO; his son, Steve and wife, Denise Matthews of Littleton, CO; and his grandchildren, John Manzanares, Brandon Kreutz and Macy Kreutz. Steve is predeceased by his sister, Martha Lee Forbes. He is also survived by his niece, Elizabeth Stepniewski-Debo, nephews, Adam Stepniewski (Nicole) and Christopher Stepniewski (Monika), and their precious children.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 10, preceded by a rosary at 10:15 a.m. at Pax Christi Catholic Church, 10675 Jaguar Dr, Lone Tree CO 80124. Interment will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, with full military honors, in a private ceremony the following day.