Katherine E. Matthews, ageless, died Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community where she resided for the past five years. Born in Columbia on October 29, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Jess and Sally McGill Evans.

A supporter of the arts, Katherine was a board member of the Columbia Music Festival Association, and was the benefactor of a dance studio at the USC School of Dance. Shortly after losing his job in 1955 with a national concern, Katherine and her late husband, George, founded Modern Exterminating Co. Inc., which remains the oldest and largest locally owned pest control company in Columbia. A tenacious businesswoman, she was a founding member of the Zonta Club of Columbia. Katherine loved to travel and did so extensively throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. She was a member of Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal.

Survivors include her son, George G. Matthews, Jr., and his wife, Belinda; grandson, G. Glenn Matthews, III, and his wife, Melanie; and step grandchildren, Ben and Clay Johnson.

A gathering to celebrate Katherine's marvelous life will be held at Rosso Trattoria in Trenholm Plaza, on Sunday, October 16th, from 2 until 5 o'clock. Burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park will be private. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

The Matthews family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregivers, Martha Sims and Shirley Wages, and the entire staff of Still Hopes Retirement Community.

Katherine never went to a party she didn't enjoy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clemson University Foundation for The George G. Matthews, Sr. Endowment for Humanities Library Resources (B2081), PO Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633.