Thelma Matthews

Thelma Matthews, 88, of Amarillo and formerly of Pampa, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021 in Amarillo.

Graveside services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa with Monty Joiner and Ian Jones officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Thelma was born June 30, 1932 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, as the oldest of 4 children, to Harold Lee Kimbley and Mary Leoria Parker Kimbley. For Thelma’s health, the family soon moved to the drier climate of the panhandle of Texas. She attended school in both McLean and Lefors, depending on the bus route that year. After high school, she married Charles Vindle Matthews on January 30, 1950 in Clovis, New Mexico. He preceded her in death on September 10, 2009. Thelma and Vindle settled in Pampa to raise their 4 daughters, moving to Amarillo in 2007. Thelma was a wonderful seamstress; she made all her 4 daughter’s dresses when they were young. In the early years of marriage, she worked as a bookkeeper and ran a babysitting service in her home. She also worked for the Marie Foundation during the 1970’s. While living in Pampa, Thelma was a long-time member of Central Baptist Church. 

This beloved mother, nana, grand nana, and gracious care giver to so many was best known for her beautiful quilts. At the age of 61, she started quilting and since that time has quilted over 100 quilts. She sold her quilts on her on-line store for a time and even sold and shipped some overseas. In the 1990’s, at the Tri-State Fair, she won the Superintendent’s Award for the top example of craftmanship performed in the overall category of textiles for her “Four Season Quilt.”

Thelma was so proud of her girls, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. In her final days, it was important to her, to make sure each of them knows how special they were to her.

She is preceded in death by a daughter, Lynna Lorraine Fry, and sister, Gene Fletcher.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Jymma Loree Stimpson and husband David of Amarillo, Darlis Kay Joiner and husband Monty of Pampa, and Dana Carole Lee and husband Fred of Fargo, Oklahoma; 2 brothers, Philip Kimbley and wife Dottie of San Antonio and Dick Kimbley and wife Florence of Pampa; grandchildren, Jason, LaJena, Holly, Shanna, Monty Paul, Valerie, Nicole, and Skylar; 18 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild and 3 more on the way.