Tina Louise(Bowman) Matthew

Tina Louise (Bowman) Matthew, 80, passed away on February 20, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's.

She was born in Salina, Kansas on March 4, 1931 to Kenneth Barrett Bowman and Ethel Williams Bowman. Her father was an A.L. Duckwall manager who served in several Kansas towns including Salina, Hutcheson, Ellsworth, Osborne, Sabetha, and Horton. She graduated from Sabetha High School where she was head cheerleader and homecoming queen. She then attended the University of Kansas where she graduated in 1953 with a BS Degree in Education and Business. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She was a model for Wolf Brother's. After her college graduation she taught Kindergarten at Tomahawk Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District.

In 1957 she married William Louis Matthew, M.D. (and were married 54 years) where they moved to California for one year while her husband served as doctor in the Navy. They returned to Olathe, Kansas where he served at the Naval Air Station until he began his medical practice in Olathe. To this union, two children were born, William Louis Matthew II and Mary Louise Matthew. She dearly loved her children and her role as mother. After her children were in high school she owned and operated an interior design store called Appletree Gifts and Interiors in Olathe.

She was one of the founders of the Olathe Junior Service League, a member of the P.E.O. and served various charities throughout her life. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.

She was a breast cancer survivor of 44 years and during these years she helped to counsel others throughout their journey and struggles. For the last 10 years she met the challenges of Alzheimer's and in her final three years she was a resident of the Cozy Cottage where the lady with the" beautiful blue eyes" was loved and cared for by many wonderful people.

She is survived by her husband, William L. Matthew, M.D.; her two children William L. Matthew II (Matt); Mary L. Matthew; and three grandchildren: William Louis Matthew III and his wife Katey of Fort Collins, Colorado; Kirk Matthew of Lawrence, Kansas; and Rachel Matthew of Olathe; an aunt (Lukie Neustrom), an uncle (Rich Nethaway), and nieces, nephews and cousins.