Labutius Selina (Straw) Mathews, 93, of Saint Cloud, FL passed away Sunday, May 7, 2023 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law who she had lived with the last 14 years. She was born June 14, 1929 in Towanda, PA to her late parents, George Muller Straw and Helen Lorraine Witherite Straw.

Labutius, was nicknamed “Boots”, after an old comic strip named “Boots and her Buddies”. Boots graduated from Clearfield High School, in Clearfield, PA. Labutius then attended Bob Jones University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. There she met her husband, William Philo Mathews. They married August 19, 1950 and enjoyed 50 wonderful years together until his death of cancer in 2001. She is survived by her children, Elisabeth Jane Daley (Mark) and William George Mathews (div. Carol) and one brother Perry Clark Straw of Oregon, IL. She was preceded in death by her brother Mervin LeVoy Straw and his wife Margrit, brother Philip George Straw, sister-in-law Lorraine Straw, and niece Naomi Dhuse. She leaves her beloved grandchildren: Janelle Holloway (Joseph), Stephen Daley (Mandy), Holly Groce (Michael), Timothy Daley (Laura), Pam Gregory (Michael), Susan Spafford (David), and Erika Christofolo (Ed). She also leaves her great grandchildren: Josiah, Aliyah, Chasen, Trevor, Andrick, Caleb, and Joanna Holloway; Anna and Jackson Buzzard; Benjamin and Nathaniel Daley; Forest Groce; and Zyla Daley; Natasha, Michael, Caleb, and Joshua Gregory; Annika, Jalyn, and Turner Spafford; and Natalie and Nathan Christofolo as well as nieces Barbara Jean Mathews, and Betsy Mathews and nephews John Mathews and Perry Straw.

Labutius (Boots) accepted the Lord as her Savior during her Uncle Rev. Walter Young’s presentation of the Gospel using a replica of the Jewish tabernacle. She came from generations of Christians with her father being a Baptist minister. She grew up in Pennsylvania and New York state. After marriage, they settled in Roxbury, CT where her husband was from. She loved music and wrote songs. She taught music to all 8 grades at Booth Free School in Roxbury and taught piano for many years. Then she became a 2nd or 3rd grade school teacher. Boots kept her class in order, created an enjoyable learning environment, and loved all her students. Former students have shared the impact she had on their lives. She taught in Washington and New Preston elementary schools and was a teaching-principal. Boots earned a Masters of Science Degree in Education from Western Connecticut State College. Boots and Bill moved to Wethersfield, CT where she taught in Berlin elementary schools. She was involved in Connecticut Education Association and NEA and was on the CEA Board of Directors. She played Lady Thiang in the Berlin Teacher’s Association performance of the King and I.

Labutius (Boots) and her husband Bill (Philo) were very involved in every church they attended, including Christ Church in Roxbury, CT, Danbury Baptist Church in CT, Wethersfield Evangelical Free Church in CT, and Berea Baptist Church in Palm Harbor, FL. She taught Sunday School and earned Evangelical Teacher Training Association credentials that allowed her to teach ETTA certified classes to other Sunday School teachers. She was a Sunday School Superintendent and Christian Education Director. She served as Pioneer Girls Chairman, New Education Building Bond Drive co-chairman, choir director, pianist, Women’s Missionary Society officer, youth leader, soloist, and choir member. They also were involved in Gideons.

Boots was involved in the communities they lived in. She was a Girl Scouts leader, in Garden Club, organized Junior Garden Club, and served on the Board of Education in Roxbury. When they retired to Palm Harbor, FL she was involved in Red Hats, Purple Ladies and with the Blue Jay Estates community. Boots sold Tupperware, Sarah Coventry Jewelry, Amway, and Successful Living Books. Bill and Boots hosted and entertained many people in their home, especially missionaries and housed young people from time to time. During retirement they travelled by RV to 49 states (48 states were visited 3 times) including a special trip to Alaska. They also vacationed in Hawaii making it all 50 states visited. They loved to travel and especially liked Bryce Canyon and the Grand Tetons. They also visited many islands and some European countries.

Boots was a friend to everyone. She showed unconditional love and total acceptance of others. She had the gift of encouragement and was loved by everyone who knew her. She loved to study the Bible and sing hymns. Boots looked forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face. She will be greatly missed.

The family appreciates the care by Kindred/Gentiva Hospice for Boots in her last months and by Osceola Memory Gardens for her body before sending her to CT.

The family will receive guests Monday, May 29th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 580 Elm St., Rocky Hill, CT. A graveside service, open to the public, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 30th at Center Cemetery, 34 North St, Roxbury, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International, Jesus Project a part of Cru, or The Voice of the Martyrs.