February 7, 1976 – October 11, 2022
Kristopher Shea Matthews, 46 of Dawson, Texas went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. He was born on February 7, 1976, to Lynda Byrne Matthews and Henry Newton Matthews. He was the youngest of 2 children.
He was a devoted husband who loved his family. On May 10, 2003, he married his wife, Kami Leiane Ward and they had over 19 amazing years together. During those years they had 3 children, Stormi, Jace, and Jaxon whom he loved more than anything.
He was a graduate of Dawson ISD in 1995 where he was an All-State football player, he played basketball, track, and baseball. During and after high school, he was a volunteer fire fighter through the Dawson Volunteer Fire Department. After he graduated high school, he worked as a detention officer at the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department for 2 years and then a detention officer at the Navarro County Sheriff’s Department before graduating from the Navarro College Police Academy in 1999. He obtained his Texas Peace Officer license and worked for the Navarro County Sheriff’s department for a total of over 23 years. In January 2017, he was promoted to Sergeant. During his years at the Sheriff’s Department, he also served on the SWAT team for many years, was actively a member of the Crisis Negotiating Team, and received numerous accolades before retiring and going to work for Navarro College in January of 2022. He also advanced his licensing over the years, obtaining his master jailer license and master peace officer license.
Kris served his community in many other ways. He was an active member on the Dawson ISD school board in which he served on for over 12 years. He was a Master Mason at the Dawson Lodge, No. 155. He was a member of the Hubbard Cowboy Church. And with his brother-in-law, he started and coached a travel softball team out of Corsicana for almost 10 years. Kris loved serving his community and the people of not only Dawson, but of all of Navarro County however he could.
Kris had many hobbies including coaching and watching his kids play sports over the years, working on his ranch, craftsmanship, classic cars, and “fixin’ stuff.” He loved being a father and teaching his kids new things. He was also so proud to be a “Grumps” (his grandfather name) and loved his grand baby so much.
Kris is preceded in death by his mother and father. Kris is survived by his wife Kami Leiane Ward-Matthews, daughter Stormi Taylor Matthews and husband Kolton of Hutto, son Jace Kristopher Matthews of Dawson, and son Jaxon Lee Matthews of Dawson, granddaughter Kynsley Diane Matthews of Hutto, sister Tana Wade of Dawson, nephew Tyler Green and wife Zoey of Burleson, nephew Rylan Wade of Grand Prairie, as well as many other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Dawson Volunteer Fire Department in Kris Matthews’ name.
From the family: Thank you to the Dawson Volunteer Fire Department, the Navarro County Sheriff’s Department, the Navarro College Police Department, and others who came out to help that night.
Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 4-6pm at Griffin – Roughton Funeral Home. A service to celebrate the life of Kris will be 11:00am Monday, October 17, 2022, at the Cowboy Church of Corsicana 5864 W HWY 31. Interment will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, Dawson, Texas.