Charlie Matthews was anything but the usual religious leader.
He loved to set off fireworks. He built a gun that, using an air compressor, launched potatoes. He also loved to get his hands dirty.
"His was not a stereotypical pastor. He would roll his sleeves up and get working, not just stand behind the pulpit," said Christina Mullis, his sister.
Mr. Matthews, 37, became ill in early October during a family vacation in Florida. The senior pastor at Mason's Vineyard Community Church, a husband and father of two young children, he contracted double pneumonia that turned into Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Mr. Mathews spent 26 days in the hospital before he died early Saturday.
Mr. Matthews met his future bride, Angie, when both were members of the Amelia High marching band where he played trumpet. Mr. Matthews also played bass guitar for the church.
But it was his love of manual labor his sister remembers.
"He was hands on," she said.
He helped find the church a new building, she said, and then got involved in its renovation.
"What people will remember Charlie by is high energy, always wanting to do stuff and love life," she said.
"He was always wanting to put his touch on things."
That included working on his Jeep, taking hikes and being outdoors, especially in the fall, his favorite season.
Mr. Matthews was the senior pastor for the Mason Vineyard Church for less than a year. Before that he was a pastor at the Springdale Vineyard Community Church for four years.
Mullis saw the pastor potential in her brother when they were children.
"He just loved and he listened. He wanted to help people find what their best was," she said. "He was always a good sounding board."
Mr. Matthews is survived by Angie, his wife of 14 years, son Justin and daughter Abby.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at E.C. Nurre Funeral Home, 177 W. Main St., Amelia. The funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at Vineyard Community Church, 11340 Century Circle East, Springdale
He loved to set off fireworks. He built a gun that, using an air compressor, launched potatoes. He also loved to get his hands dirty.
"His was not a stereotypical pastor. He would roll his sleeves up and get working, not just stand behind the pulpit," said Christina Mullis, his sister.
Mr. Matthews, 37, became ill in early October during a family vacation in Florida. The senior pastor at Mason's Vineyard Community Church, a husband and father of two young children, he contracted double pneumonia that turned into Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Mr. Mathews spent 26 days in the hospital before he died early Saturday.
Mr. Matthews met his future bride, Angie, when both were members of the Amelia High marching band where he played trumpet. Mr. Matthews also played bass guitar for the church.
But it was his love of manual labor his sister remembers.
"He was hands on," she said.
He helped find the church a new building, she said, and then got involved in its renovation.
"What people will remember Charlie by is high energy, always wanting to do stuff and love life," she said.
"He was always wanting to put his touch on things."
That included working on his Jeep, taking hikes and being outdoors, especially in the fall, his favorite season.
Mr. Matthews was the senior pastor for the Mason Vineyard Church for less than a year. Before that he was a pastor at the Springdale Vineyard Community Church for four years.
Mullis saw the pastor potential in her brother when they were children.
"He just loved and he listened. He wanted to help people find what their best was," she said. "He was always a good sounding board."
Mr. Matthews is survived by Angie, his wife of 14 years, son Justin and daughter Abby.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at E.C. Nurre Funeral Home, 177 W. Main St., Amelia. The funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at Vineyard Community Church, 11340 Century Circle East, Springdale