Obituary of Bonnie Lee Lockard Matheny Brown

Bonnie Lee (Lockard) Matheny Brown, age 89, of Armagh, Pennsylvania went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 23, 2013 after a brief illness. Born on May 13, 1924, Mrs. Matheny Brown was raised in Gilmer County, West Virginia, the only child of Ora Lockard who preceded her in death when she was an infant. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, George and Amy P. (Hinzman) Lockard. Mrs. Matheny Brown graduated Salutatorian of her 1943 class at Troy High School, Gilmer County. In 1944 she married James Brannon Matheny, who preceded her in death in July, 1975. Mrs. Matheny Brown later married Waitman Brown of Gilmer County in July, 1984. Mr. Brown preceded her in death in February, 1997. During her lifetime Mrs. Matheny Brown was a homemaker and worked in a US Defense Plant in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1940's during World War II. She then moved back to West Virginia and owned and operated a mercantile in Auburn, WV with her husband, James Matheny. Beginning in the 1950's she and her husband owned and worked a dairy farm in Troy, WV and sold milk to Carnation. Following that Mrs. Matheny Brown was a bookkeeper for the Dodge Dealership in Glenville, WV, and finally in January of 1970 she went to work for the Weston State Hospital in Weston, WV where she retired in 1984 as the Supervisor of Inventory Control. Following her retirement she lived in Morriston, Florida with her husband, Waitman Brown and after his death she permanently made her home with her youngest daughter, Bonnie (Matheny) Helmick, and son-in-law, Jerry Helmick. Mrs. Matheny Brown was an active member of both the Armagh United Methodist Church in Armagh, PA and the Broad Street United Methodist Church in Weston, WV, where she greatly enjoyed participating in the choir and prayer meetings. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #40, Weston, WV. Mrs. Matheny Brown was an avid reader and loved to play Scrabble, Dominoes, and cards. She really enjoyed spending time visiting with her friends and neighbors. Mrs. Matheny Brown had fun travelling and visited Hawaii, Mexico, and most of the 48 Continental states during her lifetime. Mrs. Matheny Brown was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Sharon K. (Byrd) Matheny of Deerfield, OH. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Staff Sergeant James D. Matheny of Clendenin, WV and a grandson-in-law, Floyd Blessing of Eleanor, WV. Mrs. Matheny Brown is survived by four children, Mrs. Shirley A. (Matheny) Braddy Yost, Thomasville, NC, Mr. James K. Matheny and wife Linda of Parkersburg, WV, Mr. Joseph C. Matheny and wife Regina of Troy, WV, and Mrs. Bonnie L. (Matheny) Helmick and husband Jerry of Armagh, PA. She is also survived by her stepson John T. (Butch) Brown and wife Kay of Clarksburg, MD and a step-daughter, Arnetta A. (Brown) Kight and husband Larry of Alexandria, VA. Mrs. Matheny Brown is survived by 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly. Visitation will be held at The Richard C. Stuart Funeral Home, 392 E. Philadelphia Street, Armagh, PA, 15920 from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm on Tuesday, November 26 and from 9:30-11:00am on Wednesday, November 27 with the funeral service at 11:00am. A graveside service will be held on Friday, November 29 at 1:00pm at the Troy IOOF Cemetery in Troy, WV. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 29 at 7:00pm at the Broad Street United Methodist Church in Weston, WV. The Stuart Funeral Home, Armagh, PA, and the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home, Weston, WV are in charge of arrangements