Buster O. Matthews was born on May 21, 1927 at Madison County, Missouri the son of Everett and Gertrude (Cook) Matthews and passed away at Madison Medical Center on May 21, 2014 at the age of 87 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bonnie Shrum, two brothers Clyde Matthews and James Matthews, and one sister Kathleen Miller. Buster is survived by three sons George Matthews, Jerry Matthews, Bill Matthews, and one step-son Roger Ellis all of Fredericktown, one daughter Dr. Retha Meier of Weldon Springs, Missouri and one step-daughter Susan Ellis White of Stoutland, Missouri, ten (10) grandchildren, and nine (9) great grandchildren. Buster was a member of the Second Baptist Church and enjoyed tractors.

On November 20, 1946 at the age of 19, Buster began working for Glen Clark on a churn drill. His job was to service the drill, haul water and supplies and help with drilling sleeve holes. He stayed away from home during this time, mostly sleeping on the ground or in the drill shanty.

After two years with Glen he began working with Charlie Johnson doing drill maintenance and filling in when someone "laid out." He continued this for several years for St. Joe and the National Lead Company, working mostly in the Lead Belt, but also in Bunker, Bixby, and the Fredericktown area.

In 1955 Buster was helping Charlie Johnson while working for National Lead on a hole that just about everyone is familiar with. It's what locals refer to as the Artesian Well here in Madison County. The Clarks drilled the top part of the hole and Buster and Charlie drilled the sleeve. Back then it was estimated to flow about 600 gallons per minute and 900 feet deep. Carl Adams ran the drill and Kenneth Miller was his helper. Clyde was the service man and Charlie Johnson moved onto the hole with Lester Martin. Buster and Harry Cook cored the hole and drilled it from 500 to 900 feet.

In 1963 Buster and his brother Clyde brought Charlie Johnson's operation and purchased a third drill, giving them two core drills and one churn drill.

Somewhere around 1969, Buster and brother Clyde parted their operation and Buster continued the drilling business. That's when Jerry and George were introduced into the business helping Buster work for National Lead in Madison County and Bollinger County. They helped drill the first ore body at the Higdon Mines.

In 1970, Buster took his drill operation to Kentucky to drill for Zinc. Sons George and Jerry followed with George drilling on his own and Jerry helping. They remained there for about 5 years.

In 1975 he came back to Missouri working in the Sweetwater area in Ellington. Buster's son Bill worked for his dad and both brothers and branched out on his own pulling water pumps. While all this drilling was taking place, his daughter Retha continued her education to become a professor at St. Louis University. His step-daughter Susan followed her mother's career path to become a registered nurse. Step-son Roger has been a butcher for approximately 40 years.

After having worked in Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, Buster retired in 1988.

He couldn't sit around the house so he followed brother Clyde's footstep as a guard at the Slime Pond. His pleasure in this job came from sharing meals with all the campers while keeping them all in line.

His passion after the Slime Pond became restoring old John Deere tractors. His most recent pleasure was seeing his tractors in the Azalea Parade, driven by his grandson and his great nephews. They then surprised him by driving the tractors to the nursing home and bringing him out to see them and tell the history of each tractor. Buster had no regrets, did his best, lived a full life, and was ready to go "home".

Visitation; 5:00 P.M. Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Follis & Sons Funeral Home

Funeral Services; 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the Follis & Sons Chapel

Officiating; Pastor Carl Cureton

Interment; Marcus Memorial Park