Nancy Lee Mathews

We lost our beautiful, generous, kind, loving, playful and supportive mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law and best friend on St. Paddy’s day.

Nancy Lee Johnson Mathews went peacefully in her sleep to join her husband John, her son John, her sister Jeanne and the many other family members and friends who went before her. We will miss her terribly.

Nancy was born

April 18, 1923 in Seattle to Agnes and John Johnson. She and her sister, Jeanne, enjoyed riding with their dad on his horse-drawn wagon to deliver coal to the Interbay area in the early 1930s. Her mother, Agnes, was sister to the well-known Death Valley Scottie.

She enjoyed a short time as “Fairy Nod” on a local radio station. She graduated from Garfield High School where she met her husband, Bill Koenigs. Nancy and Bill had two children, Reeni, and four years later, Randy. They made their home in Seattle and then on Bainbridge Island. They later separated and divorced.

Nancy then met and married Jack Freeman (Shiner) and they had one son, John who preceded his mother in death.

After a few years, Nancy met the final love of her life, John Patrick Thomas Mathews, and they enjoyed more than 25 years of wedded bliss. They put thousands of miles on John’s Suburban, and had many friends, who travelled with them at times. They had many parties, celebrations and just plain fun together.

Nancy retired from the city of Mountlake Terrace as treasurer, and then she and John moved to their beloved home at Columbia Beach on Whidbey Island.

Nancy is well-known by all who knew her, for her readiness to go at the drop of a hat, and her joy of cooking and entertaining. She just never let anything stand in the way of getting things done!

She is survived by daughters Reeni Freeman (Tom) and Kathy Frazer; sons Randy Freeman (Paula), Bob Mathews (Alicia), Mark Mathews (Kathy); grandchildren Lisa Johnson (Jeff), Jake Freeman, Breinn Freeman, Rachael, Jeremy, Leah, Brennan, Ariann, Michael Mathews, Mason Mathews, Martin Mathews, Rob Mathews, Sarah Bean, Sean Mathews, Megan Mathews, Taryn Durand, Michael Frazer; great-grandchildren Jon and Hayley Johnson, Sephina Frazer, Jakson Durand; several great-great-grandchildren and very special daughters-in-law Jill and Michele.

There will be a service followed by a celebration of her life at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at 2380 Sunlight Beach Road, Clinton; all are welcome to attend. Bring photos if you have some you would like to share; call 321-5998 for further information.

We all miss you, mom. There is a place in our hearts that will hold you forever safe.