Hilda "Rainey" Lucille Mathews, 81, of Springfield, MO, went to be with the Lord on July 12, 2021.

She was born on August 24, 1939 in Troy, TN.  Hilda graduated from high school in Washington state, and attended some college classes at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, as well as the Mountain Grove, MO campus of Missouri State University.

She was married to Herbert Leroy Mathews on December 3, 1956.  They were married 46 years.  They then moved from Missouri to Washington for Herbert's first duty station during his 20 years in the Air Force.  They had two children, Sherry Ellen Mathews and David Allen Mathews.

Hilda spent most of her life as a housewife, although she also had a few odd jobs during Herbert's time in the Air Force.  After Herbert retired from the military, she taught as a substitute teacher at local schools in Missouri.

Hilda was a Southern Baptist pastor's wife during Herbert's tenure as a Southern Baptist pastor, serving in small community churches all over Missouri until his death in 2003.  Hilda spent her last several years providing a greeting card ministry to her church and Sunday School class and was known as a prayer warrior, deeply loved by those who knew her.

Hilda was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Leroy Mathews (2003), and her daughter, Sherry Ellen McGarrah (2011).  She is survived by her brother, Jerry Wilson; her stepsister, Susie Goforth; her half sister, Anise Kirker; her son, David Mathews; her daughter, Jessica Fox; her grandsons, Oscar Lee Mathews and Anthony Mathews; and expected great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Second Baptist Church in Springfield, MO on Monday, July 19, 2021 at 10:00 am under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held in Mountain Grove, MO at the Hillcrest Cemetery around 12:30 pm the same day.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gideon's International.