Mauriene Smithson Matthews (Plainview)

Mauriene Smithson Matthews, 74, of Plainview, passed away at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2007 in Plainview. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 9, 2007 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Providence with Burnell Lund and Mel Swoyer officiating. Interment will follow in Plainview Memorial Park by Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. Mrs. Matthews was born on August 1, 1932 in Dimmitt to Ben and Maude McCoy Smithson. She graduated from Dimmit High School in 1951 and from Wayland Baptist University in 1955 with a degree in education. Mauriene was inducted into Wayland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. During her career as a basketball player with the Flying Queens, the team started their record 131-games winning streak. She had served as co-captain of the team and was a member of the United States National AAU Team which won the Pan American Games championship in 1955. Mauriene married Robert W. Matthews December 23, 1957 in Dimmitt. She retired in 1995 from the Plainview School District after 33 years of teaching. Mauriene received the Teacher Recognition Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Loyalty and was A Lifetime Membership in PTA. A long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She is survived by her husband Robert Matthews of Plainview; a daughter Robin Matthews of Lubbock; five brothers Rayphard Smithson of Dimmitt, Clinton Smithson of Rockwall, Wayne Smithson of Denison, Donald Gene Smithson of Trenton, Donald Shelton of Dimmitt; one sister Wilda Neuman of Georgetown. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Route 1 Box 119, Lockney, TX 79241 or a favorite charity.