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Show i,r 1 Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS 18 WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 1999 93 was always good to me. No matBy Barbara Pyles I love you Mom and I want you ter what time he came in at to know that I am proud to be night, he would wake us to say your son. Those were the last that he was home. words that Kent Matheson spoke Shortly after graduating from to his mother. high school, the lanky enlisted in the military and Kent was born February 19, 1951 in Cedar City to Gordon and volunteered for duty in VietJennie Matheson. His mother nam. He was stationed out of ld reached back across time and recalled: He roamed the hills with his Paiute schoolmates armed with home made bows and arHe loved rows and sling-shothunting, Fishing, camping and anything else that had to do with the outdoors, she says. Kent grew up to be an excellent outdoors man and was at home in the Utah wilderness. He went camping often with his dad on Cedar Mountain. Jennie took a deep breath. He s. - Bien Hoa with the 1st Air Calvary, and saw lots of action as a helicopter door gunner. One day as his helicopter roared across the sky, it was shot down. The was killed and Kent sustained injuries. Kent was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. co-pil- ot In 1975, after being dis- - charged from the service, Kent returned to civilian life and his love of the outdoors. He married Janet Sosnowski and the two lived in North Wales, PA. One summer morning the phone rang at the Matheson home and what they heard came as a horrible shock. Kent had a swimming accident. As the parents rushed to their sons side, they knew he was in Gods hands. The accident left Kent with an uncertain future as a quadriplegic. But because ofhis spirit and sense of humor, Kent was able to let go of his attachments to the walking world and accept his new life. Confined to a wheelchair, Kent talked to other injured folks, letting them know that life did go on after an injury occurs because his sure did! Throughout the rest of his life, Kent found ' ways to touch the life of others. Rather than dwell on the past, Kent looked toward the future. His attitudes toward life enabled him to live a positive and fulfilling life. After a lot of therapy, Kent was able to use his hands. Slowing, he began making artifacts that related to the N ative American People. The Backwoodsman magazine called his work superb and wrote, The authentic- and historically correct . . . Knives with blades from old wagon wheels and handles of antler, a fine lance tipped in bone, stone tipped arrows and beautiKent Matheson's parents hold samples of their son's craftmanship, and labor war clubs are the fruits of ful of love. Photo Barbara Of Commerce ( ( Serving Kane County Cordially invites you and your guest to attend our 999 Open House at the Work Force Services Building Saturday May 1 5 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. ' v Meet and mingle with fellow business associates Refreshments and Door Prizes v V i!f ! V.f "m e i 4 t Kent Matheson is shown here with some of the beautiful artifacts he Kents labor. . . The article went on to say that Kent tried to use the tools that were available to the native people when making his artifacts. We sent him willows from Kanab to use in his work, because people back there didnt know what they were, says Jennie. In March of 1998, life dealt Kent another blow. He discov- st A Beka Book Textbooks o sy "w I connections with his friends from church sustained him. His wife, Janet, was always by his side. Because of ill health and the miles that separated them, his mother was unable to be with her son during his last days. It was a mothers worst nightmare . . . being far away-juwhen he needed her most. Mom, what could you do? I could hold your hand, she ered he had cancer. As the cancer tearfully answered. (3 consumed his body, Kents deKent died on March 8, 1999. sire to work tapered off, but he Wiping away a tear, his mother q continued to be upbeat and posi- said, My little Indian has gone tive. His faith in God and his to his happy hunting grounds Pyles. The Kanab Chamber V v ... ity that is the hallmark of Kents work is the product of hit great craftsmanship and his use ofmaterials which are geographically by T r "Tit- iiHfctn m. and Video School on display in your area A - f I . See our web site at y, www.abeka.orgnd2 or call ext. 30 '$ for date, time, & location SM' W w-' 4 YeVtV i w jK |