Reta Williams VanMatre was born on June 3, 1935 at Advance, daughter of the late Lawrence and Eula Smith Williams and passed away on January 8, 2014 at her residence in Dexter at the age of 78 years.

Mrs. VanMatre worked as a bookkeeper and secretary but much preferred her job as a homemaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother!

On June 7, 1952, she was united in marriage to Wilbur Leroy VanMatre in Piggott, Arkansas.  Mr. VanMatre preceded her in death on March 20, 2011.

She is survived by three sons, W. Lee VanMatre and wife Fran of Bloomfield, Gerry E. VanMatre and wife Donna of Wappapello and Kenneth D. VanMatre and wife Janice of Advance; by two daughters, Terry L. Lello and husband Ken of South Bend, Indiana and Karen A. VanMatre and special friend Rodney Walker of Bernie; by three sisters, Georgia Robins of Advance, Lois Arsta of Columbia, Missouri and Sandy Allen of Malden; by sixteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-granchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Johnny Williams, Gene Williams and James Williams; by two sisters, Betty Nettler and Ann Robins; and by one granddaughter, Sarah Renee Boyer.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home on Sunday, January 12, 2014 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 P.M. 

Graveside services will then be conducted at 1:00 P.M. at the Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter with Rev. Jim Hoyt officiating.