Wayland special ed teacher Kathy Lough Mathews dies

Former Wayland Union Schools special education teacher Kathy Lough Matthews died Friday at Cumberland Gap, Tenn. She was 71.

The daughter of longtime Wayland High School secretary Bea Smith, she graduated from Wayland High School in 1968 and from Hope College in 1972. She began her career as an educator at Wayland in 1973, retiring in 2009.

She married Walt Matthews in 2010 and the two set up residence in Tennessee and embarked on traveling adventures.

She once said, “My Wayland adventures extended throughout my teaching career so that allegiance means so much to me. My new hometown is even smaller than Wayland and God plopped us right where we need to be at this point in life.”

Kathy devoted time to writing for the local newspaper, volunteered at the Art Co-Op, and enjoyed photography.

Colleague Laura Sage, also a longtime teacher here, said, “Kathy was a passionate educator who always put her students’ needs as her priority. With her patience and determination she made sure that each of her students succeeded. She was known to come in early, give up her lunches, never take a prep period, and stay hours after school to assist her students. She helped them set goals be it college, the work force, or the military.”

Among her survivors is a brother, David Smith of Middleville, her husband of 13 years, Walter Matthews; four step children: Michael Matthews, Ray Matthews, Shaina Hedeen and Christian Matthews;  three nephews: Eric Smith, Jarod Smith and Ryan Smith; several close friends and relatives.

Kathy was preceded in death her parents: Jay and Beatrice “Rairigh” Smith.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday Nov.8, at Maranatha Bible Fellowship, 139 Giles Hollow Road, Rosehill Va. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 9, Maranatha Bible, followed by burial and lunch.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.