IN MEMORIAM: Elaine Matthews, 69;

Raised 5 Children In Richfield Springs

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Elaine Thelma Matthews, 69, who worked as a health aide while raising five children here, passed away on Wednesday April 5, 2017, in Valley Health Services, Herkimer.

She was born on Oct. 26, 1947, in New Berlin, daughter of the late Walter H. Sr. and Neva M. Ray Loomis. A lifelong Richfield Springs resident, she was a graduate of Richfield Springs High School.

On Oct. 29, 1966, she married Lee Matthews in the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer.

Mrs. Matthews worked as a health care aide. She was employed by Mohawk Valley Nursing Home & Valley Health Services, Inc. She also worked as a home health assistant for Otsego County.

She retired in 1996. Elaine had a strong faith in God and was a member of the New Life Church in Herkimer. To those who knew Elaine she was a caring, loving and hopeful lady and will be greatly missed.

Surviving her are three sons, Cary Matthews and his wife Linda of Richfield Springs, Lee Matthews Jr. and his wife Caralee of Clinton, N.C., and Keith Matthews of Springfield; two daughters, Denise Brooks and her husband Doug of Richfield Springs, and Danielle Collard-Burns and her husband Michael of Syracuse; one brother, Leo Lyn Loomis of New Hampshire; a sister, Charlotte Boepple of Herkimer, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents and husband Lee she is preceded in death by a brother Walter Loomis Jr., a sister Tova Mae Loomis and an infant Baby Loomis. It was Mrs. Matthews request that funeral services be private and at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are entrusted to J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.