Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle

Mary Jo Matthews 

SEATTLE – Mary Jo Matthews, a member of St. James Cathedral, died July 24. She was 80.   

She was born in Los Angeles on January 25, 1941, to Emery and Elizabeth Drake. Growing up, she spent time with her younger sister Joanne, and especially cherished Sunday get-togethers with her large Italian family. On April 5, 1957, she went on a blind date with a guy named Tom Matthews. Before leaving the house, Mary Jo’s father asked Tom to join the family in prayer, and the rest is history. They were married on August 19, 1961.  

They had two children: Mike was born in 1962, Bobby in 1966. In 1973, the family moved from Los Angeles to Seattle, where she raised the kids, was a librarian at Mercer Island High School, moderated the Model UN club, sewed costumes at the Seattle Repertory Theater and took several art classes.  

She was a devoted mother and grandmother, cheering at every sporting event, dressing up for every Halloween and never missing a birthday party.  

She was a daily Massgoer and volunteered at St. Francis House and the Cathedral Kitchen.  

She is survived by her husband, Tom; sons, Bobby and Mike; four grandchildren, J.T., Nick, Lauren and Millie; and sister, Joanne.  

A funeral Mass was celebrated August 2 at St. James Cathedral. 

Francis Oliver Webb  

BELLEVUE – Francis Oliver Webb, a member of Sacred Heart Parish, died July 2. He was 95.  

Born January 19, 1926, in Bismarck, North Dakota, he lived the last 66 years in Washington, 30 of them in Bellevue.  

He served in the U.S. Navy and studied at St. John’s University in St. Cloud, Minnesota; the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana; and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He was a dentist. 

At Sacred Heart, he was an extraordinary ministry of holy Communion and led the rosary group. He wrote a book on praying the rosary.  

He enjoyed Bible study, golf, bridge and spending time with his family. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Minnie (Wittenberg) Webb; son Michael Jerome Webb; and granddaughter Lara Street. 

He is survived by his sons William Francis Webb, Thomas Michael Webb and Jeffrey Michael Webb; daughters, Kathleen Ann Lee, Margaret Elizabeth Main, Nancy Marie Street and Mary Elizabeth Webb; brother James Michael Webb; and grandchildren Michael Lee, Elizabeth Urquhart, Rebekah Mellema, Joseph Main, Suzannah Main, Hannah Wyszogrodski, Nathan Webb, Sophia Webb, Jeffrey Street and Stephen Street.  

A funeral Mass will be celebrated August 9 at Sacred Heart Church.  


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