Sylvia Sue Mathews

Sylvia Sue Mathews Sylvia Sue (Shaffer) Mathews was born on February 16th, 1940, in Auburn, Washington. She passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on December 7th, 2025 in Vancouver, Washington. Sylvia was the youngest daughter of Harvey and Phyllis (Crabill) Shaffer. She grew up with her two sisters Dixie (McKee) and Sharon (Beaudette) in Enumclaw, Washington, graduating from Enumclaw High School in 1958. The family spent many happy days out on the Puget Sound aboard their boat the “Martiann.” Sylvia attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington for one year. She used to tell her grandkids, “I had so much fun, but they didn’t invite me back.” After her college experience she went to work for the Kenworth Motor Company in Kent, Washington. Friends set her up on a blind date with Richard (Dick) Mathews from Eugene, Oregon. Dick and Sylvia didn’t get to see each other often, but they wrote letters back and forth. A year later Sylvia moved to Eugene to be closer to Dick, living with the friends that introduced them, Barney and Sharon Oberg. She and Dick dated for another year before becoming engaged. Not long after marrying, they moved to Boise, Idaho, where their daughter Stacy was born. From Boise they moved to Kent, Washington where their son Richard (Rich) Jr. was born, finally relocating to Vancouver, Washington in 1974. After her children entered school, Sylvia returned to the workforce as an employee of the Vancouver School District. She loved working with kids and was awarded Staff Assistant of the Year in 1991. She retired in 2000 after 20+ years. Sylvia loved the outdoors and tending to her beautiful flower gardens. She enjoyed her time in the kitchen and was legendary in the neighborhood for her famous pumpkin bread, potato salad, and Syl’s Dills. She and her family enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting when they weren’t attending sports practices and games. After they both retired, Dick and Sylvia loved traveling to visit family and friends. Sylvia also had great times on her girls casino trips with her friends from high school. After losing her husband of 51 years in 2016, Sylvia continued to live in the family home until moving in 2024 to Glenwood Place, where she received excellent care until her passing. Sylvia is survived by her daughter Stacy Walters and Stacy’s children Nathan and Allison; her son Rich, his wife Lisa, and their children: Kimberly Leiva (Guillermo) and their kids Alison and Eleanor; Stephanie Pruce (Tyler) and their kids Fionn and Margaux; Rory Banim (Nina); her brother-in-law Ralph Mathews (Ida), and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents Harvey and Phyllis Shaffer; her sister Dixie McKee (Jim); her sister Sharon Beaudette and nephew Scott; her in-laws Odyne and Katherine Mathews; her brother-in-law David Mathews (Carol) and nephew Terry; her sister-in-law Marcia Rau; and her son-in-law Tom Walters. A memorial service and reception will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, April 4th at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington 98684. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association or a Hospice Care organization near you.

Sylvia Sue Mathews

February 16, 1940 - December 7, 2025