Thank You, Gary Mathews
Gary leaves a LEGACY of Tenacity, Faith and Service
Gary Mathews has been a true example of quiet servant leadership at First Presbyterian Church since 1991, embodying faithfulness, patience and steadfastness. He has moved to Arkansas to be closer to family and leaves behind a legacy that will inspire the congregation of First Church for years to come.
Born and raised in Rothville, Missouri, as the youngest of 11 children, Gary’s early years consisted of life in a seven-room house on a dirt farm. All the Mathews children attended the University of Missouri, working hard to pay their own way through college. Gary’s strong sense of responsibility was instilled early as he followed in his brothers' footsteps, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and later serving in the military.
After graduating college, Gary joined Skelly Oil Company in Kansas City, where his career led him to Tulsa in 1962. It was in Tulsa that Gary met Jimmie, the love of his life. They were married in the summer of 1963 and moved to Olympia, Washington where Gary began his service in the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis. With top security clearance in the Army Security Agency, Gary’s military career took a pivotal turn in 1965 when he was deployed to Vietnam. As his ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, he reflected on the shared doubts and apprehensions his older brothers had also experienced as they faced the uncertainties of military service abroad.
Throughout his deployment, Gary felt God’s protection and presence guiding him through challenging times. He returned home to Tulsa just in time for Christmas in 1965.
Upon his return, Gary resumed his work at Skelly Oil and Jimmie, who had rented them a house at Third and Yale, resumed teaching in Tulsa. His career flourished, eventually spanning 49 years between Skelly Oil, public accounting (KPMG), American Airlines and Williams. Throughout his professional journey, Gary was grateful to have found mentors who helped him navigate not only his successes but also times of trial.
In 1991, Gary and Jimmie began attending First Presbyterian because it was a large church where they could worship quietly in the background. For five years, they did just that. But a deeply moving experience during a baptism, where Dr. Jim Miller baptized both an infant and a 91-year-old woman, struck Gary like a divine reminder: “I’m with you from beginning to end.” Jimmie passed away in February 2020.
Experiences at First Church marked a turning point in his spiritual life, and soon Gary became more deeply involved. From serving as Clerk of Session, Recording Clerk, or Acting Clerk for 17 years, to being a steady presence in the choir, the memorial service greeting team and helping with Home Communion, Gary’s love for the church and its members was evident in every task he undertook.
In the introduction to Gary’s Autobiography of Grace in 2019, the late Robbie Burke, who served with Gary as Co-Clerk of Session, reflected, “Gary’s last name is spelled with one ‘t’ and not two. And I believe that is on purpose because he wears the other ‘t’ through life. And to me that other ‘t’ stands for tenacious. According to Webster's Dictionary, tenacious is defined as ‘holding fast, holding stoutly to one’s purpose.’”
Robbie continued, “He arrives at the church every Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. to make sure that everything is in place for the day and to help with the 8:30 a.m. service. He has his hand on everything going on in this church and probably has a spreadsheet or graph to share, in addition. One of the amazing things is to see him arrive at a Nominating Committee meeting with his laptop, a printer, a spreadsheet, and the extras: extra reading glasses for everyone to share, a stapler, paper clips, paper markers, and computer gizmos.”
“He guides wisely, encourages readily, and loves truly each and every member.”
– Amy Scheiper, previous Co-Clerk of Session
Amy Scheiper, who worked with Gary on Session, noted: “Gary Mathews has the heart of a father toward the Congregation of First Church. He guides wisely, encourages readily, and loves truly each and every member. His tireless efforts on our behalf as the Clerk of Session, his commitment to the Choir, his loving regard toward Christ’s flock, and his unwavering faith stand as an example to me of how best to love our Lord.”
Reflecting on Gary’s contributions, Kathy Wilson, Ministry Assistant to Member Care, adds, “I will always appreciate Gary’s patient guidance as I learned how to negotiate all the various statistical data and reports required by PCUSA, Presbytery and Session. When I made mistakes, Gary was always so sweet about it and always had some encouraging words for me. I came to deeply appreciate his heart for service, his unshakeable calmness, and quiet faith as I worked with him coordinating Home Communion and the Memorial Service Greeting Team. Gary’s kind and caring nature radiates from him, making him the perfect first person for grieving family members to see when they enter the church. What a privilege it’s been to get to know Gary and to call him friend.”
Gary often reflects on Rev. Dr. Richard C. Halverson’s benediction: “Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose in your being there. Christ, who indwells in you, has something He wants to do through you. Believe this, and go in His grace, and love and power.” We are so very grateful that God brought Gary to First Church!
