Eleanor Louise Matthews Bardwell's Obituary
Hallsville – Eleanor Louise Matthews Bardwell died peacefully at home on January 1, 2018 at the age of 89. She was born on October 24, 1928 to William Allen and Tiny Mae Woods Matthews in Carthage, Texas. She attended schools in Henderson, TX and Mineral Wells, TX before becoming an Honor graduate of Paris High School in Paris, TX. She then attended and graduated from Paris Jr. College, then North Texas State College. Following her graduation from North Texas, Eleanor taught 3rd grade in the Birdville ISD, in Haltom City, TX. When Eleanor was blessed with becoming a mother, she became a full-time, stay-at-home mom.
She met her love, James Wallace Bardwell, Jr., while both were students at North Texas. They married on March 30, 1956 at St. Luke’s UMC in Fort Worth and soon after moved to Longview, TX. They had 2 children, Terry Wallace Bardwell of Lufkin and Tammye Lynn Riley of Aurora, CO. “Ellie” was a member of Winterfield United Methodist Church and spent her golden years with Wallace on their ranch in Hallsville. She was preceded in death by her husband Wallace, her first husband USAF 2nd Lt. William M. Carter, who was killed in 1950 during the Korean War, her parents and her brothers William Newell Matthews, Monnie Hugh Matthews, James Lowell Matthews and Robert Allen Matthews. Additionally, her nephew William Matthews, niece Anita Matthews and sisters-in-law Joyce Bardwell Wilson and Evelyn Gibson Matthews preceeded her in death. Those left to cherish her memories are son Terry and daughter Tammye, her grandchildren are Kelsey Godfrey and husband, Ryan Godfrey of Colorado Springs, CO, Kathryn Riley of Boulder, CO and Patrick Riley of Boulder, CO; as well as twin great-granddaughters Zalie Godfrey and Rilee Godfrey and great-grandchildren Paris and Wesley Robinson. She is also survived by nephews Dennis Wilson and wife Connie, of Longview and Mark Wilson and wife Arlene, of Hallsville, nephew Monnie H. Matthews, Jr., of Dallas, Nancy Velting and her husband Dick of Plano, Joseph Matthews of Rowlett, and Michael Matthews and his wife Lesa of Greenville, TX. The family is especially grateful for the love and care shown by cousin Danny Black and wife Jan of Longview, as well as the wonderful staff and caregivers at Visiting Angels, who cared for her over the past few years and Texas Home Hospice who made her final weeks comfortable.
See will be remembered as a sweet and kind woman who loved her husband and was completely devoted to her family. She enjoyed playing dominoes and traveling to Branson, MO with Wallace, her sister-in-law Joyce and cousin-in-law Mamie Ruth. During her younger days, Ellie found joy in singing in the choirs of her school and church and continued to love music throughout her life.
Services for Eleanor Louise Bardwell will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, January 5 at Winterfield United Methodist Church. A visitation will be held at 2:00, one hour prior to the service, with the burial immediately following at the Winterfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Winterfield UMC, 2616 Tryon Rd., Longview, TX, 75605.
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