Obituary of John Vincent Matthewson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Superintendent John Vincent Matthewson on June 29, 2012. Dad was born on July 16, 1936 in Moline, Manitoba. He was the loving son of Robert and Lena Matthewson. John was a gifted athlete and never lost his love of sports throughout his life. Our father joined the RCMP in 1956 and served his community and country with dignity and honour until his retirement in 1993. He spent the first part of his career in the North where he met our beautiful mother, Sherrie Gaehring. John and Sherrie were married in 1960 and went on to raise three daughters Shawn, Sheirra and Kyla. (Peter Sellers) Our father was stationed all over Canada and finished his career as the Commanding Officer in Port Alberni, Maple Ridge and finally Coquitlam. Dad was a devoted community volunteer and dedicated years of service to Youth Diversions, the Rotary, the Legion, the Upper Fraser Valley Seniors Golf Association and the Maple Ridge Arts Centre. Dad had many interests. He was also a wonderful artist and wood carver. Dad also really loved to golf and two weeks before his death got a hole in one at the Maple Ridge Golf Course. Above all else, Dad was a devoted father and grandfather. He was very proud of his five grandchildren Aron and Liam Schober, Caelen and Brading Matthewson-Davies and Rorey Sellers. John is survived by his sister Jean Carberry and her husband Dale, his brother in law Dale Gaehring and his wife Carol as well as numerous nieces and nephews. John was pre-deceased by our mother who died last year, and by his beautiful grandson Aron and his son-in-law Siegfried. A service will take place on Sunday, July 8 from 2 to 4 pm at the Maple Ridge Arts Centre Theatre at 11995 Haney Place in Maple Ridge. Donations in John’s memory can be made to the RCMP Scholarship Fund or the Maple Ridge Youth Centre Society.