Roseann Allen-Matthews - Obituary

From the Log Cabin Democrat comes a lovely obituary of Roseann:

Roseann Allen-Matthews, 56, of Little Rock, died of kidney failure Nov. 21, 2009.

She was born Sept. 17, 1953, in Crossett, the daughter of John Twyman Allen and Joann Tatum Allen.

Preceded in death by her dear parents, Roseann is survived by her beloved husband and devoted caretaker, Gary L. Matthews; two brothers, John Charles Allen with wife Jenny Lind Allen of Crossett and Kenneth Andrew Allen with wife Regina Allen of Jacksonville, Fla.; three nephews, John Matthew Allen and wife Kathryn, Ross Allen and Tate Allen; two nieces, Melissa Allen Clayton and husband David and Sarah Allen; three great-nephews; one great-niece; a cousin, Lee Bell Moore; god-daughter, Tiffany King; and dear friends, Dale Helton, Mike and Kelly King, Doug Ward and many others too numerous to mention.

Roseann graduated high school from San Marcos Academy, San Marcos, Texas, in 1971 and attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway where she majored in history, speech and theatre arts.

She was a member of St. Peters Episcopal Church in Conway where she helped start several ministries including a food bank and prison ministry program.

She was also a lay Eucharistic minister.

Nothing was more important to Roseann than family and friends, many losses only reinforced that in her heart.

She met her best friend and perfect match in wit and intelligence when she met Gary Matthews.

Roseann possessed “old soul” wisdom along with her wonderful wit, sense of humor, intelligence and memory.

Her laugh was uplifting.

She always had a sense of the divine in good times and bad.

She could see beyond the obvious.

As a voracious reader she was continually seeking, studying and learning.

As she searched for understanding and answers she learned to embrace the process and find peace and comfort in the questions.

She was a spirit driven person who had great faith, peace of mind and gratitude in the midst of pain and suffering, even death.

Roseann loved people especially the disenfranchised.

Her life was informed by a scripture from Matthew 25:40: I tell you this, Anything you did for one of my brothers, however humble, you did for Me. One of her favorite books was The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, in it, the much loved but shabby and aging Skin Horse says, “Once you are real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.” Roseann was Real and she will be Real forever.

Roseann and Gary would like to thank Dr. Shane Kimball, Arkansas Hospice, St. Vincent Dialysis Center, the Rev. Teri Daily, the Rev. Peggy Hays, The Right Rev. Greg Rickel, and the Venerable Joyce Hardy for their kind care and support.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 925 Mitchell St. in Conway, at 1 p.m. Wednesday officiated by the Rev. Teri Daily and Lay Eucharistic ministers Kelley King and Jim Fowler.

Honorary Pallbearers are Dale Helton, Mike King, John M. Allen, Blake Byrd, Pierre Antoine and Doug Ward.

In lieu of flowers, Roseann has asked that donations be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 925 Mitchell St., Conway, AR 72034, Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12, Little Rock, AR 72204, or the charity of your choice.

Cremation arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.

I hope that the Log Cabin Democrat forgives me for copying the entire obituary, but it's perfect and beautiful, and I wanted to share it with all my readers. About the picture, isn't Roseann gorgeous?

Thanks to Sue for sending me the link and for being a faithful correspondent throughout Roseann's illness. This blog couldn't run without people like Sue and others like her who keep me informed.