William “Gene” Matthews

June 27, 1950 - July 10, 2014
OPELOUSAS - Funeral services will be held for William “Gene” Matthews, 64, of Ville Platte, at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 12. Burial will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Matthews died Thursday, June 10, 2014, at the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana. He served his country proudly in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He enjoyed hunting, watching movies and spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed tending to his four dogs. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife of eight years, Cynthia “Cindy” Dupre Matthews of Ville Platte; his father, Charles “C.J.” Joseph Matthews of Poplarville, Mississippi; two sons, William Joseph “Joe” Matthews and his wife, Elisha, of Opelousas and Jeffery Lynn Matthews and his companion, Klay Johnson, of Baton Rouge; his first wife and the mother of his sons, Debra Tabb Matthews of Opelousas; two step-daughters, Callie Young Vidrine and her husband, Bret, of Denham Springs and Jenna Cay Young and her fiancé, Tre’ Stoma, of Lake Charles; two brothers, Timothy “Timmy” Matthews and his wife, Kathy, and Charles “Potty” Matthews and his wife, Diane, all of Poplarville, Mississippi; one sister, Linda Matthews Murphy and her husband, “Bill,” of Poplarville, Mississippi; and five grandchildren, Samantha Kay Matthews, Brandon Michael Hollier, Victoria Paige Matthews, Catherine Grace Vidrine and Dominic Bret Vidrine.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ida Lambert Matthews; one son, Bryan Keith Matthews; and one step-daughter, Jessica Nicole Young.
Pall bearers were Klay Johnson, Bret Vidrine, Tre’ Stoma, Timmy Matthews, Charles Matthews and James Jourty.
Deacon Dwayne Joubert will officiate.
Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.
Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas will be in charge of arrangements.