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Chesley Allan Mathews passed away Saturday, April 9, 2011, in Tulsa, Okla. He is remembered and honored as a beloved son and brother; a devoted husband; a kind, loving father, Papa and great-grandfather; and admired friend and teacher; and a joyful, faithful child of God.

Allan is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ruth; son, Clark and his wife, Shari, Jenks, Okla.; son, Doug and his wife, Patricia, Brentwood, Tenn.; daughter, Kathy Beard and her husband, Larry, Bartlesville, Okla.; son, Scott and his wife, Carol, Tulsa; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by sisters, Esther Stanbrough, Mound City, Kan., and Virginia Wilson, Pittsburg, Kan.; and brothers, Thurman, Marion, Ohio, and Neal, Pleasanton, Kan.

The oldest of nine children, Allan was born Aug. 19, 1921, to Chesley and Esther (Whitson) Mathews in Linn County, Kan. He worked alongside his family on their Kansas farm before studying at Emporia State College and teaching in the rural school system.

On Oct. 9, 1943, he married his "sweetheart", Ruth Leona Post, in Pleasanton, Kan.

Allan served his country in the U.S. Navy for three years during World War II before being discharged as a chief petty officer. He and Ruth then raised their family in Picher, Okla., where they owned and published the Tri-State Tribune for 51 years. An esteemed leader in his community, Allan served as chairman of Ottawa County Election Board for 20 years and was a member of the Picher Lions Club for 50 years. He was also a dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Picher, where he served as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher for many years. Allan and Ruth moved to Miami, Okla. in 2007, and then to Tulsa in 2010.

Allan is preceded in death by his parents, Chesley and Esther; sister, Flossie Amick; and brothers, Joe, Harold and Richard.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami. A graveside service will be held Friday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at Woodland Cemetery, Mound City.

Services are under the direction of Paul Thomas Funeral Home, of Miami.