Obituary of Marianne Matthews

Marianne Matthews, age 89, passed away on August 14, 2023. The daughter of the late Lois Nepka Cole and Norris Royden. She graduated from Henry Clay High School and retired from First Security National Bank, where she met many of her lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Don Royden and his wife Betty Lou Royden, her cousin, Loretta Nepka, and her sister and brother-in-laws, Bill and Wanda Pavord.

Marianne was a member of First Presbyterian Church, as was her mother, and married Frank Matthews in the church in 1956, surrounded by her family and closest friends as her bridesmaids: Lois (“Loo”) Royden Knutson, Lorretta Nepka (cousin), Wanda Pavord (sister-in-law), Joan Hagan (friend) and Fran Renfro (friend).

Marianne’s greatest joys were going to the Glitz every Thanksgiving or Christmas, luncheons with her “1st Security Bank Bunch” and “Paris gals”, (especially decorating the tables with knicknacks ��), shopping (She could never pass up a $1 deal - LOL), and family gatherings.

She is survived by her 3 children, sons Mark Matthews (Lisa), Mike Matthers (Ann Simon), and daughter Melinda Matthews (Richard Johnson). She is also survived by her grandson, Jonathan Matthews (Brittany and their daughter Frankie), granddaughters, Megan Matthews and Taylor Matthews,her beloved twin sister, Lois Cole Knutson, her ex-husband, Frank Matthews, and a multitude of additional close friends.

A Celebration of Life for Marianne will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Clark Legacy Center in Lexington (601 E Brannon Crossing, Nicholasville, KY 40356), beginning at 3pm until 6pm.

The family wishes to thank the caring neighbors that put the daily newspapers on her porch (she loved reading that paper everyday), the neighbors that took the Herbie Curbie (trash and recyclables) out each week, and the outstanding friends that took time out of their days to attend numerous luncheons or events with her over the years. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to The Lexington Humane Society or St. Jude’s Children's Hospital.