William Reid Matthew

William Reid Matthew, age 91, formerly of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away January 13, 2019 at Mercy St. Louis Hospital.
Born December 3, 1927 in Lemons, Missouri he was the son of Commodore B. and Evelyn Kimes Matthew. On May 28, 1950 in Kirksville, Mo., he married Shirley Jean Siegle of Kirksville. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Charles and Richard Matthew, one sister, Virginia Matthew and wife Shirley Jean Matthew.
Surviving is one son Dr. William Michael Matthew and his wife Nancy of Abilene, Texas; one daughter Kathryn Ann Rogers of Washington, Missouri; four grandchildren, Megan Elizabeth White and husband Kurt of Springfield, Missouri; Michael Joseph Rogers of Pacific, Missouri; Emily Catherine Matthew of Sacramento, California , and Ryan Reid Matthew of Abilene, Texas; one great grandson, Kasen Michael White and two step grandsons Maverick Coleman and Westin Cruz White; one sister in-law Donna Hunter of California and seven nieces.
Bill lived most of his life in the Kirksville area and received his High School Diploma from the Kirksville Public Schools in 1945. He received his BS and MA Degree from Kirksville State Teacher’s College in 1950 and 1954, and his Specialist in Education Degree in City School Administration from Central Missouri State University in 1967.
New Haven Public Schools was Bill’s first teaching job from 1951-1953 followed by Queen City, Missouri from 1953 -54. The family moved to Polo, Missouri in 1954 where he was Principal then Superintendent until 1963. He returned to Kirksville where he was employed by the Kirksville Public Schools and The Northeast Missouri State University as Principal of Kirksville Junior High Lab School. In August of 1976 he was employed as Superintendent of the Kirksville R-III School District until he retired in July of 1986. Bill served 35 years in Public Education, 23 in the Kirksville R-III School District. After his retirement from education he became a real estate appraiser. In 2013 Bill was honored by having the Kirksville Middle School renamed William Matthew Middle School. This was one proudest moments of his life.
Bill served in the Army at the Headquarters of the Army Ground Forces in 1945-46 after enlisting in the army when he turned 18. He was recalled to active duty in 1950 where he served at the Headquarters of the Far East Command in Tokyo, Japan.
An active member of the community, Bill was the past president of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the Grand Lodge AF and AM, Scottish Rite, The El Kadir Shrine Club, American Legion, Retired Senior Volunteer Program Board, Senior Circle, United Way Board and a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Professional Organizations included Kirksville Community Teachers Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, American and Missouri Association of School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa and Missouri Retired Teachers Association.
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 21, 2019, at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, MO.
Memorials in memory of Bill are suggested to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.