Verna Mae Matthews

Verna Mae Matthews, 89, longtime Seminole resident died Wednesday, February 29, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born April 23, 1922 in Eldorado, Kansas to George Oliver and Grace (Bracken) Franklin. Verna moved to Seminole from McAlester, Oklahoma 43 years ago. She worked as a teacher’s aide and also a records analyst for Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Seminole, Oklahoma, a member of the Seminole Hospital Ladies Auxiliary “ The Pink Ladies”, she was also a counselor for Blue Birds. Her son, Ronald Hawkins of Seminole, Oklahoma; a stepson Steve Matthews of Fairfax, Virginia, two daughters and a son-in-law, Patricia Sullivan of Seminole, Oklahoma and Gina and Rodney Pace of Seminole, Oklahoma, survive Verna. A sister, Veva Simmons of Seminole, Oklahoma and a brother Vernon Franklin of Bethany, Oklahoma also survive her.  Her grandchildren Ronica Rhude of Platt City, Missouri, Marsha Hawkins of McKinney, Texas, Bill Hawkins of Aubrey, Texas, Austin Thomas of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Brendan Pace and Lauren Pace of Seminole, Oklahoma, and four great grandchildren also survive her. Verna was preceded in death by her parents George and Grace Franklin, husband Alex Hawkins, husband Russell Troop, husband W.F. Matthews, Jr. son-in-law Bob Sullivan, grandson Robert Lee “ Bobby” Hawkins and four sisters Violet Morris, Virginia Hack, Vivian Carpenter and baby sister,Ethel Franklin and a brother Donald Franklin. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M., Monday, March 5, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Seminole, Oklahoma with burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole. Pastors Marvin Kehl and Mark Senter will officiate at the service. Casket bearers will be Austin Thomas, Brendan Pace, Bill Hawkins, Coby Arron, Terry Morris, Ron Franklin. Service are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home, Seminole, Oklahoma Funeral Information: March 5, 2012, 2:00 PM First Baptist Church located at 420 Reid Street, Seminole, OK 74868