Rev. Dennis Howard Matthews, age 66, a resident of Bronson, Kansas, died Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at his home in Bronson. A native of Boyleston, he graduated from Mills Prairie High School, Mill Shoals, Illinois and then graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS degree in education. He later graduated with a MRE degree from Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City and then received his MDIV degree with honors from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.
Dennis served churches in Illinois from 1967 to 1980 then moved to Tonganoxie, Kansas, where he served for seven years at the West Haven Baptist Church. Other pastorates included three years in Moran, Bronson, and Mildred United Methodist Churches, nine years at the DeSoto United Methodist Church and six years at First United Methodist Church in Holton, Kansas. He had also served as chaplain at Aldersgate Village in Topeka, Kansas.
He is survived by his mother, Marie Matthews of Fairfield; two daughters, Kimberly Adams, of Bronson, and Keri Brotherton (Jeff), of Spring Hill, Kansas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, Kullen O’Brien, Caysha Adams, Keegan and Kaden Mazur, Tyler, Kayleigh and Liam Leadstrom, Lacey, Allie and Jackson Brotherton. He is also surviv by a brother, David Matthews (Marilyn), Herrin, Illinois and two sisters Nancy McGill (Ron) and Carole Matthews, all of Fairfield.
His remains were cremated and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, January 15th, at the United Methodist Church, 8760 Kill Creek Road, DeSoto, Kansas 66018.
Memorials are suggested to the church. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.