LaGrand Smith Mathews, 96 passed away peacefully on January 17, 2013 in Logan due to causes incident to age. He was born on March 2, 1916 in Providence, Utah to Georgia Stella Grant and Leon Robbins Mathews. Georgia and Leon had four children together: Afton, Grant, LaGrand, and his twin sister Retta. Georgia died when LaGrand and Retta were four years old. When Leon married Ethel Barlow Muir in 1922 the family was blessed with five additional children: Leon, Hopkins, Jean, Yvonne and Charlotte.
After attending South Cache High, LaGrand and his brother Grant took over the family farm. He also worked several construction jobs during this time and met Zeltha Humphreys. They were married on April 29, 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had eight children, all of whom worked on the family farm in Millville. Over the years they raised dairy cows, chickens, sheep, mink, beef and farmed beets, peas, cherries and strawberries.
Service in the community was important to LaGrand and he served 16 years as Millville's Mayor. He believed in giving his time and resources to the community and could frequently be found in his bib overalls using his own equipment on city projects. LaGrand was a life-long devoted member of the LDS Church and served in many capacities, his most favorite being the baptismal coordinator.
LaGrand and Zeltha enjoyed 53 years together before she died in 1992. LaGrand later married Eleanor (Ellie) R. Reynolds on April 10, 1993. Over the years they have enjoyed being members of the Good Sams and Goodtimers R.V. Clubs. LaGrand and his extended family also love spending time at the Mathews family property in Blacksmith Fork Canyon.
LaGrand is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, three of his sisters, his wife Zeltha and one granddaughter. He is survived by his wife Ellie and her children: Carol Rose Stromberg (Ben), Barbara Rose Moore (Bill), Kathy Rose, David Rose, Mary Rose Propper; sisters Yvonne Anderson and Charlotte Gullo, his eight children: Ronda Parker (Jon), Ardell, Larry (Charlene), Lamont (Linda), Harold, Lyle (Linda), Clair (Gail) and Lori Martin (Daniel), 33 grandchildren, 70 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel, 34 East Center Street in Logan. A viewing will be held Tuesday evening, January 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 AM prior to the services at the mortuary. Interment will be at the Millville Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at
www.allenmortuaries.net
.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers that provided aid and comfort to LaGrand prior to his passing.