George "Les" Leslie Matthews

George Leslie "Les" Matthews, age 84 of Fremont, passed away peacefully on Monday February 24, 2025. He was born on July 20, 1940, in Muskegon, MI to F. Harvey and Rachel M. Matthews.

Les graduated from Fremont High School. He went on to study at Ferris State College later earning his MBA from Western Michigan University. In 1962, he began a lengthy career as an educator at Muskegon High School where he taught accounting and bookkeeping for 32 years and was extremely popular with his students. During that time, he also taught night school at Muskegon Community College.  

Les was born and raised in Fremont on the family farm that was homesteaded in 1861. He lived in Twin Lake and North Muskegon for periods of time until he eventually returned to the family farm in 1982. He continued to teach until 1994 and has since been enjoying retirement. Les enjoyed golf, bowling, hunting, and all other forms of sports. In the 80’s and 90’s Les, along with Harvey and Ron raised and competed with Appaloosa horses.

Les has attended Holton Methodist Church for many years and is survived by his wife Lois Matthews; his son Ron (Marte) Matthews; his grandchildren:  Paige (Zach) Rehfus, Trent (fiancé Laura White) Matthews, Lance Matthews; his great-granddaughter Valerie Rehfus; sisters:  Ella Mae Matthews, Catherine (Robert) Moore; brothers-in-law:  Patrick (Janet) Rice, Dan (Gina) Rice; sisters-in-law:  DeAnn (Mark) Jochen, Mary Lou (Rod) Lynn.  Les also leaves behind lifelong family friend Walter Hayes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Wayne (sister-in-law Ann) Matthews; sister Linda (Les) Hile; brother-in-law Richard Matthews; and sister-in-law June (Michael) Clase.

The Celebration of Life for Les will take place Saturday March 8th at Holton Methodist Church 9530 Holton Duck Lake Road, Holton, MI  49425. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. with the interment after at Maple Grove Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Muskegon Harbor Hospice or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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