She passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, surrounded by family, at Jackson Parish Hospital in Jonesboro.

Sarah was raised in Archibald. She was a 1953 graduate of Mangham High School and attended Northeast Louisiana University and Louisiana Tech University.

She married Armed Mathews in 1955, and they started their family in Mangham where Armed coached football. As a coach’s wife, Sarah regularly spent time washing and mending uniforms and cooking for the Mangham Dragons.

After moving their family to Jonesboro, Sarah worked for many years as the receptionist and then bookkeeper at Jonesboro-Hodge High School and later as secretary of the special education department at Jackson Parish School Board.

Armed and Sarah also owned and operated The Sports Page in Jonesboro for many years.

Sarah was an avid reader, a professional at solving crossword puzzles, and a fan of old westerns. She and Armed watched every episode of Gunsmoke many times. Sarah was an excellent cook and loved cooking big meals for her “bunch” as she called her family. She was extremely proud of her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and great-great grandkids and was fiercely protective of all of them.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Armed Mathews; her daughter, Ellen Mathews Layfield; and her parents.

She is survived by two sons, Armed Murrell “Rel” Mathews Jr. and wife, Salena; and Francis Neuton “Frank” Mathews and wife, Brenda; one daughter, Karen Mathews Myers and husband, Joey; and one son-in-law, Randy Layfield. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Damon Wray Mathews and wife, Kerrie; Cherie’ Mathews Odom and husband, James; Virginia Mathews Wigley and husband, Shane; Catherine Layfield Semmes and husband, Bobby; Matthew Layfield and wife, Mindy; Frank Wray Mathews and wife, Lindsay; Jessie Mathews Parker and husband, John; Brian Myers and wife, Melanie; and Daniel Myers and wife, Alyssa; and a host of greatgrandchildren and greatgreat grandchildren.

There will be a private graveside service. Burial was held Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Lynn Cemetery in Archibald, under the direction of Brown Holley Funeral Home.

Condolences may be left at brownholleyfuneralhomes.