HEBRON ---- Harold ‘Joe’ Blair Matthews, 73, also of Groton, NH and Connersville, IN, after fighting a good fight, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, due to complications from COPD and pneumonia.
Joe loved to tell a "generously verbose" story, so in his honor, this obituary will not be short. I will try to channel my "inner Joe" while attempting a little humor. Joe loved to laugh, so I know he would approve.
Joe was born on July 9, 1952, in Plymouth, NH, to Harold Wesley and Marie (Blair) Matthews. He and his sister Judy were raised in Groton by his Aunt Bea and Uncle Stub, right alongside their kids, his now-brother Ed and sister Shirley. They attended a one-room schoolhouse until higher grades with the much-celebrated and revered Mrs. Orr. She made a huge impression on him and encouraged his interest in writing, which became his passion and he felt his purpose. As long as he did it with his right hand. Joe was left-handed, and that was the "Devil's doing" so she employed probably now-illegal tactics to make him write with the “right” right hand.
There weren't many things Joe loved more than the outdoors. From a very young age, he was taught to hunt and fish (following all the Fish and Game rules, of course) by his father "Hike" and his uncles, Jr. and Everett. What I wouldn't give to have been witness to some of those escapades that may or may not have involved alcohol. Joe's life-long love of hunting and fishing was well known to all and was one of the ways that he bonded with his sons, especially his youngest boy Forrest.
Joe graduated from Newfound Memorial High School in 1970. His love of school and writing served him well as an active member of the school’s newspaper staff, Drama Club, and any other committee or group he could join, lead, or disrupt. His legendary high school pranks were witnessed and well documented so I won't go into them here, but they deserve “Honorable Mention”. Over the years, including last year, he thoroughly enjoyed attending his high school reunions - he even came out of his shell a little to share a story or two.
In 1971 he enlisted in the Army and served in Vietnam as an Aerial Photographic Combat Journalist. Most people did not know he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service, as it was rarely something he spoke about. He once told me that for an award like that to be given, something very terrible had to happen, and he didn't feel like celebrating it.
After serving in the military, Joe settled in Indiana where he remained for a large part of his life. He owned and operated a nursery and landscape company in Connersville, IN and beautified hundreds of homes and businesses in the area. He loved what he did and he loved his customers. Joe was extremely active in the community there and belonged to the Amvets, the VFW, the American Legion, and the Moose Lodge at one time. He had a lot of fun doing his Connersville TV3 show "The Garden Doctor" (he would want me to say it is available on YouTube) where he shared his expert knowledge on all things green or that should be.
Throughout his life, he continued his passion for writing through hunting and fishing articles, poetry, eulogies, love letters (I have boxes of letters he wrote to me), short stories, and children's books. He wanted to lift up children, like he had been lifted up, and it showed in his volunteering days with Big Brothers, Boy Scouts, coaching, and by teaching kids about hunting and fishing.
Along the way Joe married three times, was a father to four sons, adopted a fifth son, and was a step-father to my son for more than half his life. He loved every one of his son's wives like daughters, and he had a special place in his heart for each and every one of his grandchildren. There were no happier times for Joe than those he spent with family.
He is survived by his wife of 26 very long years (we always joked with each other like that), Michelle Jaques Matthews of Hebron, second wife and friend Dena Matthews, sons: Michael (Malinda) Matthews, Joseph (Melisa) Matthews, Dale Bartlett, Christopher (Journey) Matthews, Forrest (Jennifer) Matthews, daughter Loni Corneau; grandchildren Amber, Michael Jr., Veronica (Brant), Jordan (Taylor), Alexis, Baby Melisa, Joseph, Jr., Brice, Taylor, Rowyn, Aiden, Rosalind, James; great-grandsons Maxwell, Grayson, Lincoln, great-granddaughters Madison and Kylie, two sisters Judy Rodgers and Shirley (Norman) Willey, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends, old and new, in New Hampshire and Indiana.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother Edward Smith, nephew Daryl Smith, aunt Bea Fligg, brother-in-law Bing Rodgers, father-in-law David Jaques, aunt Nancy Jaques, and step-son David Nilsson.
Services will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 2:00-5:00 pm at 41 Dick Brown Road (former Jehovah's Witness Hall), Bridgewater, NH 03222 (right off 3A by Newfound Grocery). Join us for a traditional Christian Funeral Service officiated by our beloved family Pastor Rev. John Fischer with special music provided by Linda Fischer. It will be followed by some comfort food which will then transition into a Celebration of Life "Joe Style"! Anyone who knew Joe is invited to come to all or part of this celebration. Drop-ins are welcome until 5pm. Joe loved to see kids having fun so if you have any, please bring them. There will be Karaoke (Joe's favorite), shuffleboard table, video games, Corn Hole (Bean Bag Toss), and chess. Anyone who wishes to share a memory or tell a funny "Joe Story" will have the opportunity, so please start thinking ahead.
Burial with military honors will take place in the spring, when weather permits, at the Hebron Cemetery in Hebron, NH, where we both have family members.
No good-byes - I will see you later, my beloved husband.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/ Emmons Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.