Newell Matthews

Services are scheduled for 10 am, Wednesday October 9th, at First Baptist Church Artesia for Newell Douglas Matthews, 88 of Artesia. Newell went home to be with his Lord and savior Jesus Christ on October 4th, 2019 with his family by his side.

Ty Houghtaling will officiate the services with interment to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jerry Dodd, Kevin Matthews, Stanley Menefee, Tommy Montgomery, Glenn Parrish, and Dillon Tigert. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 8th from 2 pm to 8 pm at Terpening & Son Mortuary.

Newell was born May 1, 1931 at the family farm in Hockley County , Texas the youngest of six sons of Garland Milton Matthews and Ella Rebecca (Floyd) Matthews. From his earliest memory he worked in the fields along-side his mother and father. Newell was a natural athlete and a stand-out football player at Whitharral High School, in Whitharral, Texas.

On December 31, 1952 he married Bobbie Loren Bates in Levelland, Texas. The couple moved to Artesia in 1959. Newell went to work for Stanolind Oil Company which became Amoco, and eventually merged with British Petroleum. Newell worked at “the plant” east of Artesia until his retirement in 1987. He was highly respected by his co-workers and trained many of the men that went to work there. On December 1, 1980 he married Bettye Mike Tigert in Artesia.

Newell was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed sports, particularly college football and professional baseball. He was a die-hard New York Yankees fan. He taught his sons how to fish and how to play baseball. He instilled in them a strong work ethic, and a strong sense of responsibility.

He is survived by his sons Danny Matthews and wife Rilla of Artesia; Gary Matthews and his wife Karen of Artesia; step son Stephen Craig Tigert and wife Sandy of Artesia; six grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

Newell was preceded in death by his wife Bettye Mike Matthews; his parents; five brothers, and his grand-daughter-in law Angela Matthews.

The family would like to express their heart-felt thanks and sincere appreciation to all the staff at Good Life Senior Living Center and to the dedicated nurses at Encompass Hospice for their love, kindness, and care of Newell during his last years.