Robert Matheson

Robert Dean Matheson, M.D.

Robert Dean Matheson died peacefully Monday evening, December 27, 2010, surrounded by family. His was a full and eventful life of love, service and dedication to God, country, family, and community.

Bob was born March 21, 1919, in McGill, Nevada, the fifth child of Henry Thompson Matheson and Ethel Smith. He grew up in McGill, a small company-owned mining town where he enjoyed acting, swimming at the community pool, exploring, and other outdoor activities with friends.

He excelled in academics, particularly the sciences, graduating from White Pine High School at age 16. Following graduation he got a job working in a coal mine. Of necessity, Bob learned early in his life to appreciate the value of hard work and an education. Determined to improve his circumstances he moved to Salt Lake City in 1939 and enrolled at the University of Utah.

Bob interrupted his studies to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Toronto, Canada. In addition to the influence of his mother, his mission experiences solidified his belief in the Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel and became the well-spring for a life of service to others. Bob was an active member of the LDS Church his whole life and served cheerfully in many church callings, the capstone being his over-twenty-year service with June in the Salt Lake Temple, in which he especially found joy and happiness. The way he lived his life was a testimony to his convictions.

At the conclusion of his mission, with World War II raging, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber. His airplane was shot down over Germany in April, 1944. Only he and a few other crewmen survived. After five days of working his way through the German countryside alone at night he was captured and spent the remainder of the war in the infamous Stalag Luft prisoner-of-war camp. Bob loved his country and was a fervent patriot, never missing an opportunity to share his love of country with his family.

Shortly after returning from the war he resumed his studies at the University of Utah. While speaking at a fireside at the Salt Lake 20th Ward, he met what he described as the light of his life, petite June Taylor. This combination of strong, rough-hewn mining town Bob and refined beautiful big city June proved to be a remarkable union. They were married June 3, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple and over the next fourteen years produced what Bob considered his greatest accomplishments: his six children, in whom he took great joy.

Benefiting from the GI Bill, Bob earned his undergraduate degree in sociology and enrolled in medical school, graduating in 1950. Shortly thereafter, he moved his young family to Portland, Oregon, to further his medical training, where his life again changed dramatically. In the fall of 1951 June contracted polio, eventually leaving her without the use of her legs and confined to a wheelchair for the remaining fifty-five years of her life. Faced with the combined challenges of caring for his wife and three young boys and completing his medical training, Bob dug in. The three lively little boys aged 4, 2, and 1 were cared for by Junes parents in Salt Lake while Bob oversaw Junes rehabilitation care and completed his training in Portland.

Returning to Salt Lake, Bob completed his medical training and began to develop a successful private practice as a general surgeon. He was recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and received other academic and service awards. He served on the medical staffs of LDS, Primary Childrens and Holy Cross hospitals and contributed countless hours of medical service. Bobs love of people and his gift for healing endeared him to his many patients who came from all walks of life. He continued to make house calls until his retirement.

Despite the demands of his growing medical practice Bob filled in at home assuming many of the family responsibilities. In spite of her condition, June had three more children. With the unstinting help of Junes mother, all six children learned to perform household chores and contribute to the family well-being. All were raised in an atmosphere of support, love and affection, provided opportunities to develop talents, and encouraged to become independent. Bob and June fulfilled their responsibilities admirably, and Bob, ever-mindful of June, devotedly cared for her until her death in 2006. Bob and June survived the Depression, World War II, polio, and the rigors of raising six strong-willed children. They are truly part of the Greatest Generation.

Bob loved gardening. He is famous for his garden plot on St. Marys Drive, filled with a variety of fruit trees, raspberry canes, and every vegetable imaginable. Under Bobs tutelage, the family spent countless hours learning how to till and prepare the soil, plant, weed, cultivate, and harvest. Bob generously shared the prodigious produce with family, friends and neighbors.

The hallmark of Bobs life was service to his Heavenly Father, his country, his wife and family, his friends, and his medical patients. Rather than complain about the difficulty and challenges of his life Bob instead focused on filling the needs of others. He was known for his kind and gracious nature and was a gentleman in every respect. All who knew him loved him. We celebrate his noble life and rejoice in his reunion with his beloved June.

Bob is survived by all six of his children: Robert Taylor Matheson, M.D., Stuart Taylor Matheson (Kristi Bradshaw), COL Frank Taylor Matheson (ret.) (Laxmi Deva), Mary Ann Matheson Strong (Brian L.), Bonnie Jean Matheson Beesley (H. Brent), and Grace June Matheson, 26 grandchildren and an increasing number of great-grandchildren.

The family thanks the home nurses who cared for Bob in his later years, especially Maria Gomez.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 3, 2011, at noon in the Salt Lake Foothill 7th Ward chapel, 2215 East Roosevelt Avenue (1450 South), Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, January 2, from 6:00-8:00 at the family home, 2070 Browning Avenue, and again Monday morning, prior to the funeral service, from 10:30 to 11:30 at the 7th Ward.

Services under the direction of Russon Brothers Salt Lake Mortuary, online guestbook and directional maps available at www.russonmortuary.com