Kathleen Joanne Matthews

Kathleen Joanne Matthews came into this world, the first surviving child of William E. and Helen F. Fitzroy, on April 7, 1944, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She departed to join her Heavenly Father and many loved ones on Oct. 18, after a three-year battle with cancer.

She would like to have stuck around longer. However, she couldn’t really begrudge the timing as her 79 years had allowed her a joy-filled childhood and, as an adult, to indulge in an eclectic series of activities she loved.

Seven years after her birth, her brother, Michael, joined the family and, as she was preparing to graduate from high school, her sister, Nancy, came along. Certainly not close in age, but close at heart.

Her first love, music, developed in grade school when she sang in many choirs, and in high school, where she participated in musical theater both at her own school and at a nearby military academy.

After graduation Kathy married, and while the marriage was not long-lasting, she felt it resulted in her two best blessings; her son, David Robert, and daughter, Sheri Denise, both of whom challenged and delighted her throughout her life.

Returning to the workforce, Kathy worked as a cashier, bookkeeper and then as an office/business manager in a car dealership.

During these same years, along with being a Little League, drill team and show choir mom, she also found the time to indulge in her love of animals by taking the Los Angeles Zoo Keepers course and volunteering there. Her favorite animals were the lemurs, who loved to ride on her shoulders and feet, and a sweet Australian wombat.

As her children were approaching their own graduations, she developed another love of antiques. She and her mom opened a space in a large antique mall. It was there that one love soon evolved into two when she met salesman Michael “Skip” Matthews. They were married on Oct. 12, 1986.

In 1988, Skip’s company closed. They used this break to vacation in Oregon. Skip found a new job in Oregon, and they made the move shortly thereafter. Kathy found a very fulfilling position as a business manager for the Rogue Valley Addiction Recovery Center.

However, two years later, Skip had gone to work for the Oregon Military Department, and was transferred to St. Helens, and then Camp Rilea in Warrenton. Another move was in order.

Astoria was a good fit for both. Fishing abounded, and they purchased a fifth wheel. In their spare time, they combined camping with doing antique shows. Kathy found another very satisfying job in the office of the Clatsop Care Center.

The real icing on the cake came, however, when the United Church of Christ sought her out, offering to mentor and train her to serve as a licensed pastor for the Astoria congregation of the United Church of Christ. Between the church and the Care Center, Kathy kept plenty busy, but some of her other loves reentered her life as well, including musical theater.

She discovered the Astor Street Opry Company, and a relationship of about 30 years developed, where she performed in their productions, especially as Mama in “Shanghaied in Astoria.”

Shortly before retirement age, she left Clatsop Care Center to take a chance at making another dream come true, and opened her own antiques gift shop, What-Nots & Whimsy. She continued serving the United Church of Christ for about 19 years, and then served the Warrenton United Methodist Church for another two years.

Unfortunately, in August 2019, just a few months from when she planned on closing the store, and Skip was to retire so they could travel the U.S. in their fifth wheel, Skip had a massive heart attack and passed away.

In October 2020, Kathy got her own diagnosis of cancer that was virtually incurable. Still, with the joy she felt from her love of what she did, from her family and from her faith, along with a special gift from God of a kind and caring gentleman who came into her life as a friend to become a partner, kept her positive and upbeat for the most part. Her consolation and peace came from the song “It is Well with my Soul.”

Kathy was preceded in death by all of her grandparents; her brother, Michael; her father, William; her mother, Helen; her eldest grandson, Jason; and her husband, Skip.

She is survived by her son, David R. Burgess (Monica), of Springfield; daughter, Sheri D Burgess, of Simi Valley, California; sister, Nancy Lynn Beltran (Ricardo), of Santa Maria, California; granddaughters, Tiffany Palmer and Amanda Christi, of Springfield, granddaughter, Savannah Gourley, grandson, Jack Gourley, and grandson, David (DJ) Burgess; along with great-grandsons, Noah and Trent Palmer, of Eugene; and nephews, Richard and Brian Beltran. And last but not least, her partner, Bryan Whitlow, and her furbaby, Miss Pippy Shortstockings.

A celebration of life will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Astoria at 3 p.m. Saturday, followed by refreshments.