Edwin S. Billy Mathews was born July 31, 1929, and transitioned from this life into his Heavenly reward January 3, 2017. Ed served four years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, eighteen months of which were spent with the Headquarters 20th Air Force on Okinawa. After discharge he was employed by the Ouachita National Bank. Ed was a graduate of the LSU Banking School of the South and a member of the Board of Directors of Louisiana Equity Capital Corporation. Through the years he participated in a number of civic activities, which included Director of Monroe Little League Board, Little League Coach, Treasurer of Monroe Jaycees, member of North Monroe Lions Club, Treasurer of Northeast Louisiana Chapter of The American Heart Association and the first Treasurer of the Monroe/West Monroe Crime Stopper organization. Ed retired as Vice President of The Ouachita National Bank in 1989 after 34 years of service.After he retired, he and his wife, Glen, moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, to be near their children, grandchildren and the Houston Medical Center. Glen was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Ed was her caregiver the last fourteen years of her life. After her death on March 4, 2004,he wrote an auto-biography for his children. He returned to the Monroe/West Monroe area in September, 2004 and joined the First Baptist Church in West Monroe where he met and married Mary Ann Sample on September 10,2005. Ed quickly became a part of the church Nursing Home Ministry as a singer. His love of southern gospel music and old church hymns ran deep. The Nursing Home Ministry became very special and important to him. He also joined other local musicians, singing and playing country and gospel music in different musical venues. He deeply loved God, his church, family and friends and will be greatly missed.Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Ruel and Fannie Mathews, his first wife, Glen, and step grandson, David Gilmore. He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Mary Ann Mathews, two sons, Dr. Gary Mathews and wife Patricia , Don Mathews and wife Wendy, four step-children, Wally Gilmore and wife Denise , Doug Gilmore and wife Tammy, Brenda Gilmore Roberts and husband Bobby, and Jay Sample and wife Nancy, five grandchildren, Kelly Mathews Corredor and husband Marc, Lauren Mathews Stephens and husband Adam, Paul Mathews and wife Melissa, and Jason and Kathryn Mathews, seven step-grandchildren, Jamie Gilmore Cain and husband Aaron, Jenna Gilmore Poydence and husband Andrew,Jessica Gilmore Bolding and husband Grant, Robert Gilmore and wife Lauren, Jeremy Roberts, Benjamin Sample, Matthew Sample and wife Cassie, sisters Ruth Prisock, Joyce Fleming, Mary Jennings and husband Oscar, Shirley Carter and husband Jeff, brother Bryant Mathews and wife Georgia, sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 6 at 10:00 at First West, Feazel Chapel in West Monroe. In lieu of flowers, Ed requests that donations be made to 911Hope (www.911hope.com 911HOPE, 2375 Butler Rd, Choudrant, LA 71227). Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.comKilpatrick Funeral HomeWest Monroe, LA