Laura Mae Mathews, 86, of Bloomfield, Iowa passed away on December 8, 2025 at Good Samaritan Society – Ottumwa. She was born on March 13, 1939 in Weatherby, Missouri to Virgil Pierce and Mary Helen Elmore Robertson. On December 15, 1956 she married Raymond Mathews in Lancaster, Missouri. The couple raised five children and would have celebrated their 69th anniversary next week.
After high school, Laura worked as a nanny for several years before working in home health care. She later worked as an aide at the Davis County Hospital, as a cook for Davis County Community Schools, and then at Excel for ten years before her retirement in 2001. She enjoyed gardening, watching Iowa Hawkeye sports, caring for her dogs, and had an extensive porcelain doll collection. Laura loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond Mathews; four children, Gary (Cindy) Mathews of Mossyrock, Washington, Terri (Michael) Rhum of Bloomfield, Doug (Melinda) Mathews of Bloomfield, Christel (Michael) Oberbroeckling of Altoona, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; sister, Frances Blew of Ottumwa; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Larry Mathews; brother, James Robertson; and a sister, Pat Mincks.
Visitation for Laura will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at the Wagler Funeral Home. The family will be present to greet friends from 3:30-5:30 p.m. A memorial has been established to the Heartland Humane Society. Burial will be at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield at a later date.
