March 28, 1936 - Jan. 16, 2013

CASSOPOLIS, Mich. — Charlene Mathews, 76, of Cassopolis, died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born March 28, 1936, in Grand Rapids to Emerson and Edna (Mitchell) Hill.

She married Henry Mathews on July 31, 1954, in Dowagiac. He preceded her in death on Sept. 1, 2010.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Betty Holmes and Barbara Copley.

Charlene and her husband enjoyed camping with family, traveling throughout the U.S. She loved computer and video games. Throughout their whole lives, she and her husband did a lot, from riding motorcycles in the warm months to snowmobiles in the winter. Charlene baked and always had cookies for the grandkids.

Charlene will be greatly missed by family and friends.

She is survived by her five children, Ron Mathews of Cassopolis, Donnie Mathews of Avondale, Ga., Kathy (Chris) Brown of South Bend, Ind., Karen (James) Small of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Robert Mathews of Cassopolis; six grandchildren, Eddie Vinson of Cassopolis, Jason (La-Kesha) Small of Georgia, James II (Shameka) Small of Stone Mountain, Donnie Mathews II of Georgia, Calvin Hill of Cassopolis and Rickey Small of Stone Mountain; 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Priscilla (Leo) Lawson of Cassopolis; one brother, James (Sue) Hill of Hemet, Calif.; and a lot of cousins.

Family and friends will gather from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 N. Broadway St., Cassopolis. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at the funeral home with the Rev. Leozie Broadnax officiating.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

Online condolences may be posted at www.wagnercares.com.

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