Dr. Wesley Gene Mathews, 58, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly, Monday (September 1, 2014) at his home.

He was born on April 25, 1956 in Cleburne, Texas, the son of Billy Gene and Darlene Lanelle (Morris) Mathews.

His father was a career Navy man. Wes received his elementary education in Lemoore, Ca. Upon his fathers retirement he attended Concordia High School in Concordia, MO, graduating with the Class of 1974. After High School he entered service in the United States Navy, specializing in Electronic Warfare. Upon completion of his service he moved to Adair County, Mo, where he continued his education at Moberly Community College and Northeast Missouri State University while working as a paramedic at Adair County and Randolph Co Ambulance districts. In addition he was also a C.M.T. and paramedic instructor. On May 19, 1979 he was united in marriage to Joanna Christine Stewart in Kirksville, Missouri, and to this union three children were born. After completion of his studies at Northeast Missouri State University he was accepted into Medical School at KCOM and was a graduate with the Class of 1987. He was a board certified emergency room physician and surgeon with a long career in numerous hospitals in Missouri and Florida, while working at Sacred Heart Pensacola, Fl. (A level one trauma center). He worked back to back Hurricane’s (Ivan) and (Dennis) during while at Sacred Heart Hospital, which was the only open hospital in the region. In 2005, upon retirement, he returned to Kirksville, Mo.

He enjoyed playing music and was a very talented lifelong musician. He also enjoyed martial arts, painting, cooking, training dogs, teaching, riding bikes, gardening, reading, collecting coins, scuba diving, and was a lifelong Cardinals baseball fan.

Wes was a very passionate man who loved helping others, an ordained minister with a profound love for God, as well as a phenomenal human being, father, PaPa, Po-Pa, and mentor to many. He will truly be missed by his family and friends.

Wes is survived by his mother, Darlene Davis of Cuba, Mo; two sons, Neil Mathews and wife Melody of Destin, Fl and Adrian Mathews and wife Tracy of Kirksville, Mo; his daughter, Kalie Mathews of Kirksville, Mo, and five grandchildren, Conar Mathews, Harmony and Riley Poole all of Destin, Fl,and Kyler Daman and Cora Mathews all of Kirksville, Mo. He is also survived by one special friend Deborah Ruggles Corrin of Cedar Rapids, Ia; two uncles; one aunt, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Billy Mathews; one sister, Lynda Eagleson; one brother, Roger Mathews and his sister-in-law, Becky Mathews.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday (September 5, 2014) at McCune Cemetery, west of Livonia, Mo, with Jack Morris officiating.

Pallbearers will be Neil Mathews, Adrian Mathews, Kalie Mathews, Conar Mathews, Jack Morris and Jared Kelly. Honorary pallbearers will be Harmony Poole and Riley Poole.

Public visitation will be held Friday (September 5, 2014) from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Mo.