Johanna Margaret Hodges Mathews

Our Beloved Johanna Margaret Hodges Mathews has left this Earthly world, on November 30th, 2020. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 26th, 1934, she was 86 years old. She has finally been reunited in heaven with her loved ones; her parents Arthur Allen and Margaret Noorda Hodges; her brothers, Arthur Jr (Sonny),and Gaylen Hodges; and her beloved granddaughter Brittney Mathews, whom she missed very dearly.

As she is with our Heavenly Father, she temporally leaves behind her eternal husband Clifford Dayle Mathews of 68 years of marriage; her twelve children, Joana Bawden (Tim), Judy Allen (Lamont), Mary Erickson (Brent), Dalelene Brown (Les), Allen Mathews (Gaby), Sally Mathews, Clifford Mathews (Kim), Kevin Mathews (Julene), Teresa Dumas (Larry), Dan Mathews (Kim), David Mathews and Jason Mathews (Jennie). Also she will be very missed by over 45 grandchildren and over 40 great grandchildren with more on the way.

There is beauty all around when there is love at home, which certainly was true when it came to being around Margaret. She was a beautiful person inside and out. She was a very compassionate, kind person, whom loved and cared for all children, whether it was her own or not. Her sparkly blue eyes would light up when she would see the smile of a child. It truly brought her joy to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Throughout her lifetime she had twelve children and provided a home for over 175 foster children, four of whom she adopted. She had a very big heart and loved her animals, she took in strays that were left at the elementary school across the street from her home.

As a child, Margaret had fond memories of getting her picture taken on a horse , playing kick the can with brothers, and trying to join the neighborhood boys club. As a youth, she helped cook meals for sick neighbors, but there were times she still mischievously played pranks with her friends. She looked up to her older brother Sonny, who served his country and had died in the Korean War. At the age of 15, she met her future husband Dayle at a friend’s wedding. She said that at the time she had been writing letters to another boy that was in the Navy, but Dayle stole her heart and they danced the night away. He lovingly called her “Tootsie”. A few years later, Margaret had married her sweetheart Dayle in the Salt Lake City Temple. During the years, she worked as a lunch lady at a elementary school, as a cook for a nursing home, and served as a temple worker for the Oquirrh Temple in South Jordan. One of her greatest joys was serving with her husband as a primary teacher for the Sunbeams class.

Sweet Margaret lived the life as a sunbeam, like in the song, Jesus wanted her for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day. Jesus wanted her to be loving and kind to all she sees, showing how pleasant and happy, his little ones can be. That is her legacy and that is how we shall remember her, as our heavenly Sunbeam.

A viewing from 6 pm to 8 pm, will be held on the evening of Sunday December 6th, at the Larkin Mortuary in Riverton. The following day, another viewing will be held one hour prior to the memorial services at 12pm. In conclusion, a burial will be held at the South Jordan Cemetery.

To view the recorded memorial service please follow the link below:
Topic: Margaret Mathews Memorial Service
Date: Dec 7, 2020 11:44 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/WTvFs_apSvl5hs0LzZDTwwp9-45ltTLSiCGP02UL3O6d9WlCfIah5q8jrf1WItUi.AMYnWE1l-u7mpytQ

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