Matthews, Florine Cecilia (Age 82) of Pisgah, Maryland.

On the morning of May 5, 2013, God was strolling through his garden seeking to find a beautiful flower, so he reached down and picked Florine Cecilia Matthews and quietly called her home at the age of 82.

Florine was born on December 22, 1930, in Indian Head, Maryland, the beloved daughter of Albert and Marion Matthews. After the death of her mother, she was raised by her father and stepmother, Lillian Matthews, whom she called "Mama."

Florine was affectionately known as "Tut," and sometimes "Flo" by all who knew and loved her. She was educated in Charles County, Maryland Public Schools, attending Mason Springs Elementary School, Pomonkey High School and graduating from Bel Alton High School in June 1947.

After graduating from Bel Alton High School, Florine worked at the LaPlata Tobacco Barn and later got a job working at the Reeves Bakery in Washington, DC. She moved back home to work at the Powder Factory in Indian Head, Maryland from June 1951 until she was laid off in September 1957. In August 1962 she became employed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)in Bethesda, Maryland. She loved working at NIH as a Biology Lab Technician. and remained until her retirement on January 3, 1986, with 30 years of Government service. After retirement from NIH she decided to work again, so she was employed at the Sears Outlet in Waldorf, Maryland in 1987 and continued to work there until Sears closed in 1997.

Florine loved to play the Maryland lottery, scratch instant tickets and casino slot machines. Sometimes she won and sometimes she lost. She also loved to decorate her house for the holidays. She really loved Christmas and had enough Christmas decorations to decorate four houses. During a family gathering for Christmas, the family counted over 100 items that had a Santa Claus on it. She had a unique personality and voiced her opinion while maintaining a sense of humor and warmth. With unusual strength, it was her love for life and family that sustained her through the tough times during her illness until God called her home.

Florine was the last of her siblings to be called home to heaven.

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her father, stepmother, brothers, Harold and William "Sonny" Matthews; sisters, Mary Laurette Smith, Dorothy "Tinnie" Hankins, Thelma "Boogie" and Sandra "Cookie" Matthews.

Left to cherish her memories are many nieces, nephews, cousins, sister-in-law, a host of other relatives, friends and special caregiver Ariel Love.

Florine will be missed for her unlimited humorous stories and family history. She always said that "she lived her life and part of someone else's." Florine's final chapter has been written and we are sad, however, we thank God for loaning Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Great Aunt, Cousin, Sister-in-law, Niece, Tut, Flo to us. We shall always remember her as Fiesty, Lively, Outgoing, Remarkable, Inspirational, Neat, Expressive!

Viewing, 10am until time of Service, 11am Monday, May 13, 2013, in the Chapel of THORNTON Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland. Interment, St. Charles Cemetery, Glymont, Maryland.