Obituary of Raymond Matthews

January 29, 1938 – York, United Kingdom

April 21, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Ray Matthews was born in York, United Kingdom on January 29, 1938, and immigrated to Canada in 1967. Ray’s life’s journey ended on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the age of 85 years.

Ray’s early years were in Brighton where he excelled in both academics and sports at the Varndean Grammar School, he swam with the Brighton Swim Club, and participated in the Boy Scout movement. He worked at a number of part-time jobs from a very young age. These early experiences deeply influenced his passion for life and his work ethic.

Ray graduated from the London School of Economics with an honours degree in Economics and worked as a management trainee in an aircraft factory in England before moving to Canada. He arrived in Calgary in 1967 and continued his academic pursuits, earning his Chartered Accountant designation in 1971. Ray was an active member of the accounting profession for 51 years. Most of his career was with Smith, Matthews & Partners, and Matthews Group LLP in partnership with his wife Kris.

Education and professional ethics were important values for Ray, and he was proud of his work with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta. He started working with the professional discipline process in 1977 and chaired the appeals committee until the time of his passing. In his early career, Ray was a sessional instructor in tax and accounting at Mount Royal University, as well as a guest instructor at the University of Calgary. For a number of years, he was a member, and later the chair, of the Business Advisory Committee at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

In addition to his career, Ray lived a very active life that involved scuba diving, skiing, swimming, numerous hobbies, and worldwide travel. He particularly enjoyed adventures with the special light of his life, grandson Donovan. He will be remembered for his brilliant mind, strong ethics, and sense of humour, as well as his unwavering commitment to his family, partners, and clients. 

He will be lovingly missed by his wife Kris Matthews (nee Nissen), daughter Alison, and grandson Donovan. Ray also had a large extended family and close friends who remember him fondly for his friendship and how he touched their lives. 

A Celebration of Ray’s Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Edge School Foundation at http://www.edgeschool.com/giving/donate/; this charity was near and dear to Ray. Please also feel free to donate to a charity that is meaningful to you.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful medical staff who looked after Ray. A special thanks is owed to Dr. Avramenko and Angela at INLIV, Carla at the Rockyview Heart Function Clinic, Dr. Aggarwal at Total Cardiology, Katrina, and Shannon from Rockyview Palliative Care, and Rani, and Reza the pharmacists who helped to manage his medications.

In living memory of Ray Matthews, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.