Roger D. Mathews, 53, of LaPlata, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday (March 5, 2014) at his home.

The son of Billy Gene and Darlene Lanelle (Morris) Mathews, he was born January 4, 1961 in China Lake, California. On November 10, 1979 in Kirksville, Missouri, Roger was united in marriage to Becky Ann Craig who preceded him in death on March 22, 2010.

He was also preceded in death by his father, Bill; his sister, Lynda and stepfather, James “Jim” Davis.

Roger if survived by three daughters, Jennifer St. Clair, Sara Hettinger and husband Chase and Amy Gladbach all of LaPlata, MO; his mother, Darlene Davis of Cuba, MO; his brother, Dr. Wesley Mathews of Kirksville, MO; four grandchildren, Morgan, William and Raegan St. Clair and Logan Hettinger all of LaPlata, MO; his nephews, Neil Mathews of Destin, FL and Adrian Mathews now working in Afghanistan and his niece, Kalie Mathews of Kirksville, MO.

Roger’s work career started out at Florsheim Shoe Co. in Kirksville, Missouri. He became an EMT then a Paramedic having worked at Adair, Marion and Macon Counties Ambulance Services.

His interests included traveling, hunting, and family history gathering, he and Becky went to OH, IN, IA and KY searching Craig history. He and his mother traveled to TN and over the state of MO researching Morris and Mathews family history. He took great interest in his father and stepfathers military careers.

Public visitation will be held Sunday (March 9, 2014) from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Graveside services will follow visitation at McCune Cemetery, west of Livonia, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Neil Mathews, Aaron St. Clair, Chase Hettinger, Jeremy Gladbach, Garett Wood, Jack Morris and Jody Jacobs.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Roger Mathews may be made to the McCune Cemetery. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.