Thomas Mathews

Thomas Martin Mathews, age 75, passed away in Yreka on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Tom was born in San Francisco on May 30, 1939 to Brice and Carolyn Mathews. He attended Yreka High School, where he was an accomplished and lettered member of the varsity basketball and football teams. He graduated with the Class of 1958, and went on to attend college in San Bernardino, California. He married in 1959, and started his family in Downey, California. After returning to Shasta County, Tom resided in Redding for many years. A consummate salesman and manager, Tom was associated with Langendorf Bread Co. and the Dillen Distributing Company when, in 1981, Tom met the love of his life, Linda. They married in February of 1982, and Tom embraced and raised as his own, Timothy, Linda’s son. Ever the outdoorsman, Tom enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing while instilling a love of these activities in his children. In 2001, Tom retired, and he and Linda relocated to the small community of Fort Jones. In his later years, he enjoyed selling for Etna Brewery, riding his Harley-Davidson, and was a loyal and devoted fan of his favorite teams: the San Francisco 49’ers and the San Francisco Giants. After surviving cancer in 1987, Tom was blessed to enjoy many more years with his wife and family. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Linda Suzanne; children, Mark (Noel), Scott (Cindy), Christy Davis (Colin, Sr.), Rick (Pam), David (Lisa), and Timothy Hurst (Jennifer); grandchildren, Rikki Lee, Chase, Colin Jr., Patrick, Lindsay, Michelle, Cody, Tyler, Tarah, Marcus, and Alexandria; ten great-grandchildren; many nieces & nephews; God-daughters, Angelina-Rose and Anabelle-Josie Cotton; his sister, Jane Gordon (Curt); brother, Michael (Josie); brother-in-law, Edward Prado (Margaret); sister-in-law Cynthia Prado-Cotton; and his cousin, Jim Mathews (Jan), all of whom loved him dearly. It is with loving certainty that Tom is once again fishing with his favorite lab, Toby, and playing cribbage with his best friend, Bill Townsend. Tom was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A Rosary will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yreka. A Memorial Mass of Catholic Burial will be held on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ft. Jones. A reception will follow services at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish Hall in Ft Jones.

Thomas Mathews

May 30, 1939 - November 26, 2014