Tributes

Laura Viola (Matchett) Pope was born on December 22, 1930 to Francis Dorwin Matchett and Gladys Oleta (Showalter) (Matchett) Jones in Yakima, Washington. She went to see her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on February 3, 2022. After graduating from high school she became an LVN and started working in a local Houston hospital. She attended First Methodist Church of Houston where she met her future husband, Hubert Jackson Pope, called “Smiley” by most everyone who knew him. They moved to San Antonio after getting married on February 14, 1958 and began raising a family. Laura spent her working life as a special needs school bus driver to provide a Christian education for each of her 4 children. This allowed her to work during school hours and be home for a nightly family meal together. Her passion over the years was for everyone to know her Savior. She wanted to be a missionary but since she had a family to care for she groomed that passion working with TIME for Christ Medical Missions to Mexico. She went on yearly 2 week trips in the summertime and occasionally winter trips that were during Christmas. As her children we were encouraged to go on the trips. Each of us went to at least 2 trips. She worked as an exam nurse doing EKG's, shots, wound cleanings and ear washes. Volunteering in other areas when the exam room duties were slow. Hubert was drawn to the Gideons and Laura joined him as part of the Gideons Women's Auxiliary. They spent many hours passing out New Testaments and Bibles to hotels, every restaurant they ate in, schools and sending bibles all over the world. Laura always bought and brought several boxes of New Testaments written in Spanish for the Evangelists to give out to new believers in Mexico's small villages. She frequently attended Believers Fellowship Missionary board meetings. She loved her church family and each year provided New Testaments to be distributed to the children who attended Vacation Bible School at Believers Fellowship. She would hand out candies and hugs to as many children as she came in contact with. She loved hearing Gods' Word preached! At the Gideon conventions she marveled at the many personal testimonies of missionaries from all over the world and praying for them was her honor and privilege. Hubert her husband of 59 years passed away in 2017. Laura grew up with her 2 brothers. Frank Matchett and wife Mildred and Robert Matchett and wife Marlene all of whom have proceeded her in death. She is survived by her sister Nancy Squires and her nieces’ family Donnas and David Domingues and their son D.J. with whom we visited frequently each year. She will be missed by many other family members left behind and see many who have preceeded her in death. She loved playing games! Her favorites Skip Bo, Sparkle, UNO (which sometimes confused her) and Rummikub. Laura had four children Karen Pope, Stephen Pope, Timothy Pope and Leah (Pope) Ohlhausen wife of Sam Ohlhausen. Leah has proceeded her in death. Her three grandchildren were the light of her life. John Ohlhausen, Linda Ohlhausen and Laura Ohlhausen. She eagerly awaits the great reunion we will have "when we all get to Heaven!"

Tributes

Laura V. Pope

December 22, 1930 - February 3, 2022