Irene died on September 25, 2010 at the Hospice of the Chaplaincy in Kennewick, WA at the age of 95. Irene was born in the Pampa/Rock Springs area near LaCrosse, WA on 10/17/1914 to Philetus and Hilda Moore. She was the 4th child of a family of eight children: Harold 1910-1996, Marion 1912-2007, Verna 1913-1914, Carl 1916-1992, Polly Barnard 1919, June Franklin 1924, and Bob 1926-2007. This was a farming family that has supported each other and weathered many obstacles including the Great Depression. You may have seen the poster "We've been farming too long!" picturing Carl on the left and Marion on the right. Her paternal grandfather, Moses, and great-grandfather, William, both journeyed on the Oregon Trail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Walla Walla, WA in 1859. At the age of 8 years old, she became a member of the LaCrosse Methodist Church. She still remembers the church's stained glass eye and commented on 9/12/2010 that it has figuratively watched over her all her life. So at an early age she placed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. To date, this stained glass eye is still in existence. In 1927 the family moved to Moscow, Idaho where Irene went to high school. After graduation she worked from 1932-1934 for the Gray Family close to where she was born. She made a rip roaring salary of $3/week. Following that from 1934-1938 she worked for the Dr. Armstrong family in Moscow. Her salary jumped 66% to $5/week. She saved her money and started attending Kinman Business School in Spokane in September 1938. Her strong and favored subject was bookkeeping. While attending Kinman's, she worked at the Dutch Shop at the corner of Washington and First from 1800 to Midnight. After graduating from Kinman's, she worked for the Chevy Dealership in Spokane as a bookkeeper. This is where she met her husband Jerry L Matson 1917-1971. He worked in the parts department and they crossed paths doing inventory. He would throw parts into a bucket while he counted them. When he got to 48, he said 60 is good enough. Surprise!! Surprise!! They got married on 2/2/1941. His humor must have won her over. In 1941 they bought a home at 7620 East Liberty for $850 and used her left over school money for the down payment. She lived in this house until June 2009 when she moved to the Manor at Canyon Lakes in Kennewick, WA. She was a member and active in the Millwood Presbyterian Church from the 1940's to 2009. She spent countless hours on the road taking people to doctor appointments. For years she was a Sunday school teacher, involved in rummage sales, and organized wedding receptions. She was also an elder. Her actions demonstrated her loving and caring nature. Her dependability was exemplary. She is survived by two sisters, three sisters-in-law, two children, six grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Her two sisters are Polly Barnard of Port Ludlow, WA and June Franklin of Montgomery, AL. Her sisters-in-law are Callie Nicholson of Palouse, WA, Dorothy Moore of Coupville, WA and Sylvia Moore of Lewiston, ID. Her children are step-daughter Janet Sullivan of Rockaway Beach, OR and her son William Matson wife Becky of Bothell, WA. Her grandchildren are Steve Ellis wife Judy, Jerene Richey, Belinda Orr husband Rick , Dan Matson wife Angi, Jennifer Matson husband Hamad Al-Omran, and Kris Sump husband Kevin. A graveside service will be held at the LaCrosse, WA cemetery on October 2, 2010 at 3 pm. In the town of LaCrosse, drive northwest on 3rd Street which veers right and becomes Wiedrich Road. Just after the road turns right or north, the cemetery will be on your right. Following the graveside service, please join the family for a time of remembrance and refreshments at the LaCrosse United Methodist Church, 301 East 3rd.