Betty Josephine Killegrew Matthews

Betty Josephine Killegrew Matthews passed away on December 8, 2014 at home with her son and daughter at her side.
She was born in Gulfport during the depression to John and
Frances Dauro Killegrew. ""We were so poor to begin with, we never knew there was a depression!"" she always laughed. She marveled at the measures her parents took to support and raise four children in hard-scrabble times and her favorite photograph of herself was one taken of her as a child atop a rented pony which her mother miraculously produced a dime to pay for. She loved to save and invest money over her lifetime as a result of the financial challenges of her childhood and was proud to instill a healthy respect for saving into her son and tried desperately to do the same for her daughter, to no avail. She adored her father, who preceded her in death, cabinet-maker and craftsman John Martin Killegrew. And even though the antics of her crazy mother, Frances Dauro Killegrew, produced one million of eye-rolls from Betty, she loved her dearly and missed her terribly after her death in 2006.
Betty attended Gulfport High School and stayed close to her classmates until her death. Her favorite subject was home economics which lead to a life-time of artistic creation through culinary and design endeavors; or as she would say, cooking and sewing. She was a meticulous gourmet cook and pastry chef. Her confections were melt-in-your-mouth perfection and garnered praise from every one who ever got a sample. She began sewing as a child making doll clothes and made custom crib bedding and window treatments for the nursery of her great-grandson just months before her death. A tiny hand-sewn day gown stood the test of time and was worn home from the hospital by her daughter, grand-daughter and great-grand daughter. Her love of fashion and design served her well when she began a career as a merchandise buyer at Anderson's Men's Wear in Gulfport after her daughter went to college and she didn't have to stay home and watch her every move anymore. She loved making her own money and was grateful to Hully Anderson for the remainder of her life for taking a chance on hiring a house-wife as a buyer and for teaching her how to buy stock. She retired in 1994.
When she was nineteen she met a handsome red-headed sailor twelve-years her senior named Richard ""Dickey"" Matthews. Not wanting to be labeled a cradle-robber, he wouldn't marry her until she turned twenty-one. So at twenty-one years and one week old, they married and stayed that way for forty years until his death in 1993. They were good at being married and produced two children who they inspired, encouraged, embarrassed and occasionally swatted with a switch. They lived in the same house for their entire marriage, paid cash for cars, never had a balance on a credit card and sent their kids to college with money they'd saved for that purpose. They kissed on each other and yelled some too. After Dickie's death, Betty began a romance with travel that lasted as long as she did. Upon learning that she had a brain tumor, she said ""Dammit, I have a trip planned to Mackinac Island next month! Should I cancel?"" She flew, cruised, drove and railed her way through several continents eating great food and drinking good wine, passions that she did pass along to her daughter and which skipped her sensible son.
As much as she loved her children (almost all of the time) she fell flat-out head over heels for her granddaughters even though efforts to teach them to sew, make pound cake or even iron failed miserably. Then two great-grand babies came along and she nearly popped with running-over love often saying ""I can't believe they're OURS!"" She leaves behind three generations of broken hearts; sensible son James ""Pop"" (Kathy) Matthews, daughter Catherine Matthews Riemann, granddaughters Savannah Matthews and Morgan Riemann (Matt) McCabe and great-grand children Claire and Everett McCabe along with step-son Claude Frank Johnson.
She is also survived by a sister Martha Ladnier, a brother Richard Killegrew and a number of nieces and nephews. She lost her brother John Killegrew in 2008 and cried every time she said his name. She leaves behind as well her best friends and partners in crime, Lou Scardino and Ethel Mae Fillingame. A devout catholic who never once entered a church without her head covered, she also leaves her two favorite men, Father Louis Lohan and Father Paddy Mockler who both know, without doubt, where Betty is now. She loved the Lord and couldn't wait to see the home he prepared for her, which she is likely remodeling.
A visitation will be held at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Long Beach at 3:00 on Monday, December 15 with a brief service following at 4:00.
Because having a party was far more important to Betty than anything else ""When I go, put me in a chiller and go have a party. It's on me!"" there will be a party at the Chimney's in Gulfport immediately following the service. Ladies, if you've got hats, wear 'em.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.
An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.