Stephen James Matthews, Sr.
Family Genealogy
  • WELCOME
    • Family Name Originations
    • S.J. MATTHEWS, SR. >
      • S. J. Matthews, Jr., MD
      • Stephen J. Matthews, III >
        • Mary Letha Matthews >
          • Naomi Kemp
      • William Marion Matthews >
        • Wm. M. Morgan Matthews >
          • Irma V Matthews Plott
          • Mary Ella Matthews
          • Thomas Lindsey Matthews
        • Frances Rosine Matthews
      • John Huston Matthews + Farris >
        • Floyd Matthews >
          • News Clippings >
            • I Joined the Navy
            • The Adventure
            • WW II Memories
            • Military Citations
            • Submarine Duty
          • Dedications >
            • Dedications Pg. 2
            • Dedications Pg 3
          • William Mason Matthews >
            • Hiking Ireland Part II
            • Sailing the Mediterranian
          • John Matthews
          • Roy Matthews >
            • Dorothy Marie Matthews >
              • James Burton Wesson
              • Roy Matthews Wesson
            • Gene Matthews >
              • Helen Matthews
              • Mark E. Matthews
              • Terri L. Matthews >
                • Grandchildren
        • Viola Estelle Matthews
        • John Houston+ Margaret Venable >
          • Carrie Matthews
          • Nora Matthews
          • John D. Matthews
          • Thomas M. Matthews >
            • Virgie Ann Matthews >
              • Glenn Paul Perry >
                • GEORGIA ARABELLA BARNAWELL
                • S. Jane Perry >
                  • Jane's Blog
            • Solon Ernest Matthews
            • Price Matthews
            • Add Matthews
            • Sibble Deloris Matthews
            • Geneva Estelle Matthews
        • John Huston Matthews + Eliza Jane Waters >
          • W.F. Matthews >
            • Kathy Lyle
            • Jan McCormack >
              • Hurricane Ike, September 2008
              • Jan's Blog
              • Vicki McCormack
              • Dutch McCormack >
                • Dutch's T-Bucket
              • ROBERT SCOTT McCORMACK, II
              • Mike McCormack >
                • Mikes Plane Build
      • Stephen James Matthews, SR
  • BASIC INFO
    • Family DNA Research
    • JANE'S Research
    • Helpful Genealogy Web Sites
    • Heritage Book
    • Guest Book
    • Name Origination
    • Family Recipes
    • Contact Us
    • Take Our Survey
  • CEMETERIES
    • Obituaries (9)
    • Obituaries, Page Two (9)
    • Obituaries, Page Three (7)
    • Visit Our Grave Sites >
      • The Workers
  • REUNIONS
    • Plan Vacation around Reunion
    • REUNION SLIDE SHOW
    • 1992, 1995 & 1999
    • 1993, 1997 & 2005
    • 2002, 2003 & 2006
    • 2009, 2011 & 2012
  • STORIES
    • Stories by Family Members >
      • I Remember Margie
      • THE HISTORY OF THE APRON
      • Nora Matthews McClaren
      • Married for a Day
      • The Twins
      • Roy Matthews-Citizen of the Year
      • Price Matthews
      • Add and Price Matthews
    • Weddings/Anniverseries
    • Family Poetry
    • Tree In a Nutshell
  • LEGAL DOCS
    • Birth Certificates
    • Death Certificates
    • Marriages
    • Other Documents
    • Draft Registrations >
      • Evaline C. Matthews >
        • Mary Nora Matthews
Picture
The Yates (left) and the McCormack (right) coats of arms, as did most Family Crests, came into existence centuries ago. The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eight and ninth centuries. The new art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own coat of arms.

Picture

Remembered by Mother
Janice Matthews McCormack

      Vicki J. McCormack/Jackson/Yates was born in Carbondale, IL to Janice Agnew Matthews and Gordon Dean McCormack.  Her grandfather was William Frank (Sharp) Matthews and great grandfather John Huston Matthews.  She was born in the old hospital in Carbondale - can't remember the name of the hospital and since it hasn't been designated a historical site I can't find any information about it.  Her dad was a Sgt. in the Marine Corps and was on his way to Korea  (left in December, 1954) but was diverted to Japan instead.  He had worked at the Post Office on base at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Santa Anna and was the closest PO person in the area.  He arrived back home when Vicki was just a little over one year old.
     I was called by the production people for the TV Program (Truth or Consequences), asking if I would like to bring Vicki to Hollywood to meet her dad on their TV program.  It seems Mack was docking in San Francisco soon and they knew he hadn't seen his new baby since she had been born and they wanted to make that meeting an event.  And they certainly did that; it was fun - I wish I had pictures from that, but do not, just memories.   
     Vicki and I lived with Mack's parents, Irma and Loren McCormack in Carbondale, IL for her first year of life.  After Mack came home we lived in a series of  small towns in Southern, IL and in Terre Haute, IN.    Vicki was an average student, disliking school as teenagers often do; she had a lot of friends - her best friends were twin girls.  She quit high school when she was sixteen and from there she got married.  She got her GED after her two girls were born and later went on to finish one year in college, about the time the girls were in Middle School.  She went through the normal trials of a young girl, into a teenager, into marriage and then motherhood.
     She raised two grown girls (Jennifer and Angela Jackson) by a first marriage (Arthur Jackson) and later remarried (Michael Newton Yates) and had two sons (Michael and Matthew).  She worked off and on, sometimes being a stay at home mom.  She was working at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant when she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer; she was only 42 years old.  It was during the six months after her diagnosis that she showed her true strength and love for her family.  She went through two surgeries which should have never happened - as they only diminished her quality of life - and fought very hard to live through the holidays (1996) in order to spend her last Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family, especially her children.  She passed away two days before her birthday, January 18, 1997.

Pictures, top row, left to right; Michael Yates, Vicki, Angela Jackson and Jennifer Jackson; Vicki and Jennifer at her graduation from Truman University in Kirksville, MO; Vicki at about 5 years old
Left to right bottom row; Vicki cutting birthday cake - she loved the kids birthdays; Vicki at the pool with little Mike during a swimming lesson; Vicki with another birthday cake and Mike.


Top of Page