Joanne Charlene Matthews

September 28, 1936 - May 17, 2015

Joanne Charlene Matthews, 78, died Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Community Hospital in Torrington. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church with Reverend Vickie Kintzel and Pastor Scott Mathis officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery in Torrington.Cremation has taken place.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Albert “Ab” Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund at EWC, 3200 West C Street, Torrington, Wyoming 82240 or donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send their condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com . Joanne was born September 28, 1936, in Hawk Springs, Wyoming the daughter of Albert “Ab” and Vivian (Hoover) Harris. After her birth, the family lived in Hawk Springs for four or five years and then moved to Torrington. Joanne graduated from Torrington High School in 1954 and went on to attend the University of Wyoming on an honor scholarship. In 1958, after graduating from UW, Joanne took a job at Glendo High School. Joanne then taught as an instructor of business education for the Huntley School District from 1958-61. In 1961, she took a position in the Business Department at Eastern Wyoming College and was the Dean of Women. Joanne graduated from the University of Wyoming with her Masters in 1963. The following year she went back to the Huntley School District and became the Principal at Huntley High School. In 1967, Joanne began teaching in the Goshen County Unified School District. She was the business department chairman and director of the Community Resource Training Program. In 1995 she was named Teacher of the Year for THS. Joanne taught in Torrington until she retired in 1995. After retirement, she was a substitute teacher for another five years. Joanne met Jack Matthews in high school, the two were high school sweethearts. The couple married in 1963. Joanne was always busy. The couple owned the Chicken Hut in Torrington for 27 years. The couple also managed/owned many rental properties. Jack and Joanne enjoyed their retirement by spending time with their grandchildren and sharing in their school activities, going on cruises and tours all over the world, fishing, participating in Shrine activities, and caring for elderly relatives who needed assistance. Joanne was a member of the Wyoming Education Association, Goshen County Education Association, National Education Association, Order of Eastern Star, Job’s Daughters, PEO, Kappa Delta, Phi Gamma Nu, and UW Alumni Association. Survivors include husband Jack Matthews of Torrington; daughter Thyra (Rodney) Welsh of Omaha, Nebraska; sister Janice (Dugan) King of Gering, Nebraska; grandson Evan Welsh of Omaha, Nebraska; granddaughter Abigail Welsh of Omaha, Nebraska; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding her in death were her parents and her sister Joyce Miller.