Dean E. Matthews, Jr.

Dean E. Matthews, Jr., born June 22, 1934 to parents Dean E. and Helen Matthews, died March 2, 2015 at his Sammamish, WA, home.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn, son Mark (Coral), daughters Marcia Brown (Jeff) and Carole Anderson (Kyle), stepson Rudy McKinney (Jovanna), and stepdaughter Camille McKinney. Survivors also include grandchildren Jordan, Taylor, Taryn, Carl, Sarah, Jackie, Katie, Drew, step-grandchildren Rhyan, Quinn, Keysa and Eleanor, along with brothers Bill and Jon, three cousins, and six nieces and nephews.

Born in Dodge City, KS, Dean grew up in Ashland, KS, attended the University of Kansas, joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering.

He spent almost four years in the Air Force in Almagordo, NM, where his son and first daughter were born. Dean then moved to Tacoma, WA, to work for the American Plywood Association, and where his second daughter was born. In 1965 he moved to Mercer Island, WA, to work for Simpson Timber Co. in Seattle. Dean was a long-time Mercer Island resident, moving to Sammamish, WA, in 2014.

In 1983 he established his public relations company, Matthews Associates, working with building products companies, and eventually added engineering consulting to the firms work scope. His work had him traveling throughout the U.S., and occasionally internationally. Working until he was 77 he retired in 2012.

A member of Mercer Island Rotary for more than 25 years, Dean loved woodworking, remodeling, furniture making, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, and camping.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Parish in Seattle, 609 8th Ave., Saturday, March 28, at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers a donation may be sent to Rotary Foundation, Mercer Island Rotary, P.O. Box 1, Mercer Island, WA 98040