Marcella Matthews of East Prairie passed from life at Missouri Delta Medical Center on July 5, 2022.  Born on October 19, 1931 in Dallas, TX, Marcella was the eldest of four girls and two boys born to Robert and Mary (Miller) Thompson.  During her high school years, Marcella moved to St. Louis to help in her grandmother's boarding house where she met her future husband, Etchel Matthews, a native of Dogwood.  The couple would marry soon after her graduation in August of 1950 and their only child would be born in St. Louis in December of the following year.

Marcella and Etchel relocated to his home town in 1980 where they would reside until his death in 2003. During her time in Dogwood, Marcella found her greatest joy in working as a Foster Grandmother in the East Prairie Schools. She was also an active member of the Dogwood United Methodist Church.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, husband and all of her siblings except sister, Mary, of the state of Texas.  She is survived by son, Gary (Brenda), of Little Rock, AR, and many friends in the area.  In her later years, Marcella also enjoyed the support of her nephew, Johnny Bradley, Emily Dahlbeck and Dr. Jimmy Heath, all of Dogwood.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 11, 2022 beginning at 11 a.m. until time of funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie, Missouri.  Rev. Chandler Landis will officiate.

Interment will follow in Dogwood Cemetery under the direction of Shelby Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Sikeston PAWS, 1900 Compress Rd., Sikeston, MO  63801

Online condolences may be shared at: www.southernfuneralservices.com