Wilma J Matlock

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Rev. Mark Sanders and Rev. Daniel Matlock officiating. Visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery, near Assumption. Memorials are being left to First Assembly of God and Shelby Christian Church both in Shelbyville and GT Church’s children’s ministries in Decatur.

Wilma Jean was born on July 22, 1934 in Flat Branch Township of Shelby County, IL, the daughter of Dwight George and Eleanor Maurine Behl Storey and grew up on a farm east of Assumption. She graduated from Assumption High School in 1952 and Decatur Memorial School of Nursing in 1955. After finishing nurses’ training, she married Glenn Matlock, who had just finished serving in the Korean War. The two high school sweethearts were married on July 22, 1955, which was Wilma Jean’s 21st birthday. Glenn and Wilma Jean had three wonderful children; Mark, Michael, and Mary. Wilma Jean worked as a nurse for awhile, but her true vocational love was farming along side the love of her life. She greatly enjoyed driving the farm trucks and tractors, going on trips, and camping with her family. She had many hobbies including shopping, sewing, cooking, making crafts, decorating, gardening, and arranging flowers. One of the things she and Glenn enjoyed the most was building their new home in Shelbyville. Some of her other favorite past times were getting together with dear friends and nurse sisters, going to Florida in the winter, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. During Wilma Jean and Glenn’s 52 years of marriage, they traveled seeing most of the 50 States. Wilma Jean accepted the Lord when she was 15 years old. She and Glenn faithfully attended Little Flock Baptist Church together. After Glenn passed away in January 2008, Wilma Jean began attending Shelby Christian Church.

She leaves her sons, Mark (wife Kathy) of Decatur and Michael (wife Debbie) of Assumption; her daughter, Mary (husband Tim) Smith of Moweaqua; her grandchildren, Angie Matlock, Chris (wife Joanna) Matlock, and David (wife Emily) Matlock all of Decatur, Michelle Matlock of Las Vegas, NV, Daniel (wife Kelly) Matlock of Austin, TX, Rachel Smith of St. Louis, MO, and Joshua Smith of Moweaqua. Her great grandchildren are William and Josiah Matlock of Decatur and Elena and Jackson Matlock of Austin, TX. Her surviving sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law are Jean and Carl Wooters, Lyle and Mary Matlock, Don and Doris Matlock, Mamie Matlock, and Bob and Jenell Allen all of Shelbyville and Lois and Don Sanner and Judy and John Burch of Decatur. Wilma Jean also leaves behind one special aunt, Jean Bantner of Assumption and many dear cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Glenn; her parents; her only brother, Robert Lee Storey; brother-in-law, Verne Matlock; and sister-in-law, Mary Allen.

The family would like to thank the nurses of Quad County Hospice and Cancer Care in Decatur, family, and friends for all their cards and prayers during Wilma Jean’s illness.