Kathleen Ann Matthews

Kathleen Ann Matthews

March 3, 1950 – October 20, 2025

Kathleen Ann Matthews, 75, of Chico, California, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2025, surrounded by her nephew and his family after a brief battle with cancer.

Born March 3, 1950, in San Francisco, California, Kathleen was the fourth child of Vinton S. and Margaret Elizabeth (Moore) Matthews. She grew up in Campbell, California, and graduated from Del Mar High School. She later attended San Jose City College for training in medical records, beginning a long and dedicated career in healthcare.

Kathleen first worked as an ER secretary at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, then spent ten years in medical record keeping at Stanford University Hospital. She continued her career at Sonora Regional Medical Center and later at Oroville Hospital before retiring from the field.

After moving to Chico, Kathleen began what would become nearly two decades of volunteer service with the Chico Police Department’s Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. As “VIPS 14,” she served as the department’s point of contact for volunteer coordination, arranging callouts and ensuring the right people were on scene when needed. Her commitment and reliability were legendary — it’s said that four people have since taken on the duties she once managed single-handedly.

Beyond her professional and volunteer work, Kathleen was a proud family historian who lovingly preserved the stories and records of her extended family. She enjoyed counted cross-stitch, cherished her many feline companions (often named for relatives), and treasured summers spent with family at Camp High Sierra with the Santa Clara Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Kathleen is survived by her brothers John Matthews of Stevensville, Montana, and Joe Matthews of Chico; her sister, Carol Matthews of Chico; six nieces and nephews; and thirteen great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and other beloved family members.

A celebration of Kathleen’s life will be held in early December. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to the Butte County SPCA, the Chico Cat Coalition or a local animal shelter of your choice.

Kathleen will be remembered for honoring family birthdays, loyalty to public servants, and her lifelong spirit of service to others.