Albert Ray Matthews, Sr. passed from this life on April 26, 2007.

      He was born Nov. 12, 1915, in Nashville to Charles Milburn and Cora Stamm Matthews. He lived in Mt. Vernon and Champaign before coming to the Calumet region where he lived most of his life in Hammond, Ind. He was a baker by trade and worked at many region bakeries. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the Army Air Force in Guam at the war's closing. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Cedar Lake, Ind.

      He is survived by his children, Mary Ellen Jayne and husband Roy of Newton, Kenneth Ray Matthews and wife Dianne of Cedar Lake, Ind., George Franklin Matthews and wife Audrey of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Joel Eugene Matthews and wife Gayle of Crown Point, Ind., Albert Ray Matthews and wife Emily of Dyer, Ind., Douglas Lee Matthews and wife Sue of Hammond, Ind., Linda Sue Wolfe and husband Jack of Harrison, Arkansas, Karen Lynn Matthews and partner Rene Sterbenc of Calumet City, and Debra Jean Csukardi of Highland, Ind. Also surviving is his ex-wife Ellen Hargis of Hammond Ind.

      He was preceded in death by one son, Paul Richard Matthews, formerly of Dahlgren; three ex-wives, his first wife, Alma Bolen Matthews Bogan, third wife, Lillian Louise Smiley Peterson Matthews and his last wife, Stella Smolski Redenbaugh Matthews. Besides his parents, his 12 older siblings are also deceased; Florence Matthews, Clara (Irvin) Smith, Frederick (Edith) Mathews, Leroy (Daisy) Matthews, Edward Matthews, Harry Matthews, Irene Foster (Cecil) Goodwin, George (Faye) Matthews, Della Mae (Charles) Hargis, Elmer (Opal) Matthews, Lillian (Elbert) Lowe, and Rose Clark Wilson.

      He had 32 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren and several grown step children.

      His cremanes will be inurned at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Schererville, Ind. in the Veteran's section following a brief graveside ceremony on Thursday at 1:00 pm.