Herley Mathews Obituary

Herley Hankins Mathews, 96 of Allentown, was called to his heavenly home on June 1, 2025.
Mathews was a life-long resident of northern Santa Rosa County; a farmer, a cattleman, and community leader who served on various agricultural-related boards and organizations during his lifetime including the Soil and Water Conservation Board, ASCS, Florida Farm Bureau and the Escambia River Electric Coop. A recipient of the FFA's American Farmer degree, he spent his entire life working the land alongside his wife of 50-plus years, Virginia. In that time, he raised a family, built a reputation as a tireless worker, and established a legacy for his large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mathews was a dreamer and visionary who saw potential in property others believed valueless and a strong-minded laborer who put his hands to drawing both a bounty from the earth and that little-seen potential from the land. His family was honored as Santa Rosa County's Farm Family of the Year in 1966 and featured in Progressive Farmer magazine in 1976. He was a long-time friend of Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church, a neighbor who could be counted upon to lend his hand to others, and a man who loved and provided for his family well. The Mathews' Farm was a long-time feature on the Santa Rosa Farm Tour, where the family took great pride in hosting its community for home-grown boiled peanuts and watermelon.
Mathews is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia (Bush); his sister, Gloria Nell (Donnie) Wagner; brother, Matt Mathews; and son-in-law, Larry Gann.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Sue Gann; son, Steve (Marguerite) Mathews; grandchildren, Wes (Jessica) Mathews, Trent (Sharon) Mathews, Larinda (Scott) Moore, Jeff (Sara) Mathews, Dusty (Mandy) Mathews; and great grandchildren, Morgan, Garrison, Lucas, Lily, Isaac, Lakin, Laney, Caynen, Caleb and Veda; sisters-in-law, Elenora Jernigan, Melvin Bush; and brother-in-law, Melvin Bush.
A Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church, 6720 Hopewell Road Milton, FL 32570, with visitation from 2:00-3:00pm and service at 3:00pm. A private interment will be held later.
Mathew's great grandsons will serve as pall bearers.
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