Carol Mathews
October 13, 1943 ~ November 16, 2015
Carol Jean Mathews, age 72 years, of Cresbard, South Dakota, passed away Monday, November 16, 2015, at the Faulkton Area Medical Center located in Faulkton, SD.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 22, 2015 at Concordia Lutheran Church, Cresbard with Pastor Timothy Koch leading the service. Burial followed in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Bowdle, SD. A visitation and prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, November 21, 2015, at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton, SD with visitation one hour prior.
Carol Jean (Herman) Mathews was born October 13, 1943 in Bowdle, SD to Reinhold “Reinie” and Laura (Nelson) Herman. Her sister and brother are Patty and Kenneth Herman.
Carol attended school in Bowdle, graduating high school in 1961. She continued her education at South Dakota State University earning a bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 1965. Carol also earned a Master of Arts degree in Health Service Administration from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Carol’s first job was as a summer camp nurse in Fishkill, New York through the New York Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund. After visiting the World Fair in New York City, she helped run an infirmary for children from Harlem. Her next job took her to Gary, Indiana as a school nurse. While in Gary, she also served as a nursing instructor of a high school program along with founding and directing the first Diabetes Education program through the Department of Health Education at Methodist Hospital.
In April 12th, 1969, Carol was united in marriage to Clyde Mathews. They moved to Derwood, Maryland, a Washington DC suburb, where she began working as a community health and school nurse for the Montgomery County, MD Division of School Health Services. She held various positions including supervisor of community health services, Section Chief in the Division of School Health Services, and the Director of the Division of School Health Services for Montgomery County, MD. She was also an active member in the Maryland State Nurses Association serving as President, Treasurer and chairing several committees. Carol was the recipient of the Maryland State Leadership Award for her work in the school health arena. She divorced in 1980 and retired from the Montgomery County, MD government in 1985.
Carol stayed in Derwood, MD with her son Timothy Nelson Mathews and received her Real Estate license and sold residential homes for a short time. In 1986, Carol took a position with Montgomery County Public Schools as a Management and Budget Specialist and worked for ten years before retiring for the second time in 1996.
Other career highlights include serving as an adjunct professor at Georgetown, Catholic and Maryland University Schools of Nursing. Carol was always politically involved, championing efforts for pay equality for nurses while working with national leaders. One of her passions included support for the ‘69 cent win!’ campaign for increasing the pay for women equal to every dollar a man would earn.
Carol sold her Derwood, MD home and moved back to South Dakota in 2012 to live near her sister, niece and nephews and her hometown. She completed her Nursing Refresher course and worked for one semester as a clinical instructor at Presentation College Nursing School in Aberdeen, SD. Carol’s greatest joy during retirement was traveling back to Maryland and spending time with her grandchildren.
Carol’s life will be treasured by her son, Timothy Nelson Mathews of Cresbard, SD; grandchildren: Timothy Nelson Mathews Jr. and Madison Mathews of Olney, Maryland; her sister, Patty Nipp and niece, Marilora Nipp of Cresbard; and nephews: Monte Nipp of Langford and Marlin Nipp of Pierre.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Kenneth.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton, SD has been entrusted with Carol’s arrangements.
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Dear Family of Carol Matthews, We just learned about the passing of Carol and what a shock it was! We were privileged to have her stay with us this past July when she came out for our Aunt Eleanor’s 100th birthday. We are thinking about making a driving trip back there this next summer and planned to spend some time with her at her home in Cresbard. It seems that God had other plans. God bless you all and we will be thinking of you.
Dear Family of Carol Matthews, We just learned about the passing of Carol and what a shock it was! We were privileged to have her stay with us this past July when she came out for our Aunt Eleanor’s 100th birthday. We are thinking about making a driving trip back there this next summer and planned to spend some time with her at her home in Cresbard. It seems that God had other plans. God bless you all and we will be thinking of you.
Deepest sympathy and prayers for God’s blessings to Carol’s family and friends… I remember her, fondly and all the love, care, expertise and skill she gave to the children and families of Montgomery County, MD, for many years…as a Public Health and School Health Services Nurse and Administrator and as an Administrator with Montgomery County Public Schools. Her positive mark on the world will be long-lasting.
My sympathy to Tim and the family for their loss. I’ve know Carol since she and my sister were best friends in grade school at Bowdle, SD. When I moved to Maryland in 1983, it was nice to have someone here with whom I had such a long connection. We fell into a yearly tradition of Christmas Eve together, first at a restaurant and then Carol started to have it at her home every year. She was a wonderful gracious relaxed hostess. She will be missed.
My thought and prayers are with Carol’s family during this difficult time.
Please know that I am thinking of you all at this sad time. Dodie
Rest in Peace Carol
We are so sorry to hear about Carol. We would always visit when we were at Kesslers grocery store.She was very special cousin to me. She always took time for our family. Loved the way she cared about family. One of my Momther’s favorite trips was to Washington DC with Carol and Rieney. It was a pure blessing to call her my cousin. She will truly be missed. We will cherish her memory. We would be there but are in Texas now. RIP Thoughts and prayers for all. Jackie and Brian Carpenter
Carol was a great thinker and always interested and interesting. It has been a privilege and a great deal of fun to spend time with her at our SDSU class reunions in the past decade. She always spoke with great love of her son and grandchildren, and of her caring family in Cresbard. She was so happy to be home in SD again, and we hoped she would enter the political arena as a very wise woman and advocate for health care. I will miss her! I hope to be able to share visitation and prayer service with your family and our nursing colleagues. With tears and sincere sympathy, Jane
I cannot believe what news I heard today. I am grateful that Carol was able to visit Grandma (Eleanor) for her 100th birthday because it gave her California family a great memory of her. I won’t forget how entertained my daughter, Daisy, was with Carol at Morris and Betty’s. Carol took her bracelet off her arm and let Daisy play with it for the entire visit. Very kind. We spent the time talking about Grandma, Daisy, and of course the wild horses of South Dakota. I will sadly miss Carol, but I know that she lived a great life and was happy to be back in her home of South Dakota.
My condolences to Cousin Tim, Patty and Aunt Carol’s family there in South Dakota. Some of the best times were at Aunt Carol’s house. It might have been hunting for easter eggs when we were little kids on Easter Sunday or it might have been someone’s birthday…we always had a good time at Aunt Carols’ house in Derwood, MD because she made it enjoyable and fun, Aunt Carol you will be missed. Darlene Faulconer
My sincere condolences to Carol’s family. She was such a powerful influence and inspiration in my life during my career as a Community Health Nurse in Montgomery County. Thank you Carol for all your dedication, compassion and caring for so many. RIP
Our family is very grateful for all of the communities blessings, support and wonderful memories of my mother.
Rip in peace cuz. Remember the great times as kids
Sympathy to Carol’s family and friends. Carol was a compassion and skillful Administrator of Montgomery County Health Dept School Health Services. Carol truly cared for students and staff!
To All the people who were blessed to know Carol, She cared. She matter. She made a difference. I remember her in our Watertown,SD basement apartment. The time the elephant next door made his presence know when spring came to SD. I really enjoyed hearing of her move back to SD and the wonderful pictures of family and local scenery, plus the Black Hills on her Facebook. She will be missed. And her passing is our sad reminder. We are leaving too. Try to be …
I was fortunate to work with Carol for one year (two semesters) at Presentation College a couple years ago. We worked together helping the students learn their nursing skills. These nursing students are currently seniors and will be graduating soon. She had a wealth of nursing experience and we all learned so much from her. Carol really loved her family and was so proud of them. She was always talking about them and showing us pictures. Our hearts are sad and cannot imagine what you are going through. You are all our my thoughts and prayers during this time.
My heart is heavy as I try to come to the reality of the death of your Mother. Your Mother and I have been longtime friend and colleagues since the early 80’s; we had quite the history together; remembering our good times and of course, the not so good times , made our friendship strong. You certainly are in my thoughts and prayers. I so-o-o appreciated your phone call to let me aware of this news. I’ve tried to let the colleagues that I remember who knew your Mother. I have been retired 22 yrs now and I’ve lost touch with many of them! Your Mother has been so proud of your move to Cresbard, taking your meds and working the program and how you are now working with the elevators. Please continue to feel your Mother love and pride in all your hard work and it will give you emotional strength that you don’t even realize that you have. With much love, Betsy
My sympathy is extended to Carol’s family and many friends. Although our paths have not often crossed since our early nursing student days, some people stay in your memory and heart from that time on….so is true with Carol. Her many contributions in & out of nursing have been true gifts through out her life. She will be missed!
Sincere condolences to the family of my dear nursing classmate, Carol. Her life’s work made this a better world.
To Carol’s special son from a longtime friend of your Mother. I so-o appreciated your phone call the other day with the news of your Mother’s death; know it wasn’t an easy phone call to make. Your Mother’s unending love and belief in your inner strengths will be such a comfort and source of your inner strength and finally some peace that you never knew you had in long time, and will not be an easy path, but you CAN do this very difficult journey for yourself and your Mother’s memory. With much love and prayers, Betsy
With caring thoughts and prayers for Carol’s family. I remember Carol with great admiration and respect for her giftedness as a nurse, administrator and kind individual. Thank you , Carol, for your personal touch on my life and the fond memories of our working together in Montgomery County.
Dear Tim, I was so sorry to hear about your mother. Nursing has truly lost a great leader. I loved working for her in the Health Department. She was also a good friend. I pray that God will always stand by you and keep you in His care.
It is with a heavy heart that the Chavez family is saying good bye to Ms. Mathews from Maryland, we are truly going to miss this wonderful and giving women. Our prayers go to her soul resting easy and to the family she leaves behind. Sending our prayers, The Chavez Family.
EBJOYED GREAT VISITS WITH CAROL AT OUR HOMES THAT WERE NEAR WASHINGTON DC. SHE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT SMILE AND WAS A DILIGENT WORKER IN WHAT EVER SHE WAS INVOLVED. LOVED THAT SHE ATTENDED TERRY’S AND MY FAREWELL PARTY FOR GUAM. HAD A GREAT TIME.
Rest in Peace dear Carol. Your memory lives on in all those whose lives you touched.
Visiting Carol growing up, we had a great time and always enjoyed a great laugh. Our conversations through the years, and Tim and Carol coming out to California when Tim was young, brought back great memories. Having Carol make the trip to California for Aunt Eleanor’s 100th birthday, now is so huge. Being able to go to dinner, take the time to talk, laugh, and just enjoy each other is an incredible treasure. This hurts greatly, but God has taken an incredible soul to help others as much as she wants.
My condolences to the Mathews and Herman families and especially my friend, Tim. I’m so sorry to hear of the death of your mother. I only met her one time but she left an indelible impression of someone who is kind, caring, compassionate and possessing a zest for life. I will be praying for your family during this difficult time.
It is with deepest sympathy I pray for God’s comfort, blessing and guidance for all who are able to say they are Carol’s family or friend. It was a true blessing to meet Carol at my parents’ house in California (Feiocks). We both stayed there a few days, one of those days being spent celebrating Aunt Eleanor’s 100th birthday with other family members and friends. During that short time, we swapped many life stories and experiences. Tim, Timothy, and Madison, you were her favorites to talk about, she loved you so much, it was crystal clear that you were the sunshine in her life, you were her heart and soul. After saying our goodbyes in CA, I knew I wanted to plan more visits with Carol, but God did not see it that way. Apparently he needs Carol for bigger and better things and has freed her up to accomplish them. I feel fortunate to have known Carol, her passion to nurture and help , and her unconditional love and support of family should be examples for the rest of us to follow. Rest in peace Carol, Andrea Blair
It is with deepest sympathy I pray for God’s comfort, blessing and guidance for all who are able to say they are Carol’s family or friend. It was a true blessing to meet Carol at my parents’ house in California (Feiocks). We both stayed there a few days, one of those days being spent celebrating Aunt Eleanor’s 100th birthday with other family members and friends. During that short time, we swapped many life stories and experiences. Tim, Timothy, and Madison, you were her favorites to talk about, she loved you so much, it was crystal clear that you were the sunshine in her life, you were her heart and soul. After saying our goodbyes in CA, I knew I wanted to plan more visits with Carol, but God did not see it that way. Apparently he needs Carol for bigger and better things and has freed her up to accomplish them. I feel fortunate to have known Carol, her passion to nurture and help , and her unconditional love and support of family should be examples for the rest of us to follow. Rest in peace Carol, Andrea Blair