Matthew Rachal

 Matthew Gordon Rachal went home to be with his Lord on Monday, November 30, 2015.  He was born on December the 7th of 1925 in Shreveport, Louisiana.  His father was Matthew Rachal, a Cajun from Cloutierville, Louisiana, and his mother was Valeria Posey, from Jena; both families worked in the sawmills.  Matthew had one younger brother, Charles who passed away at the age of 12.  

Matthew grew up in Shreveport and in Merryville, Louisiana.  His father was involved in the growth of Shreveport and helped to build schools; the young Matthew planted the first tree on the grounds of the new school he would later attend.  His father also helped to build Broadmoor Golf Course where at the young age of 12, Matthew was a semi-finalist in the Junior Golf Tournament and won with acclamations from the local newspaper; he would go on to enjoy golf for many years.   

As a boy, Matthew owned three horses; a silver mare, a strawberry roan, and a pinto pony.  He tells of riding the silver mare in parades in Shreveport where upon one occasion the noise of the crowd spooked the mare who almost went down in the street.   He was called Boot’s for many of these years as he always wore his cowboy boots.  

Matthew’s grandparent’s, who lived in Merryville, Louisiana, helped to raise him and he spent many good times with them and his uncles.  He graduated in 1943 as the Salutatorian of his class in Merryville, Louisiana.   One Sunday morning upon returning from hunting birds, Matthew came into his grandparent’s house with Granddad sitting up close to the radio listening to the President of the United States saying that Pearl Harbor had just been bombed and that we were declaring war on Japan.  The day was December 7th, which happened to be Matthew’s 16th birthday.  This would shape his immediate future.  He wanted to follow in Edward’s steps and join the Army Air Corp; this meant he would have to have letters of recommendation from prominent people in the area.  Upon completion of this process, he was accepted and went into service where he was trained as a gunner and radioman using Morse Code on both the  B-17 and then later on the B-29.   

In 1947, Matthew was called into the ministry after completing his time in the service to his country.  He became an evangelist, at first preaching on street corners and in the local churches in the area.  He bought a 40’x 60’ canvas tent and traveled around Texas and Louisiana with another preacher holding revivals.  He was a full time Independent Baptist preacher for 26 years with churches in Louisiana and Colorado.  Matthew also had weekly broadcast on local Christian radio stations in both states for many years.  

Matthew married Johnnie Lee Mulkey from DeRidder, Louisiana on December 29, 1950. They had two daughters, Patricia Elaine and Paula Jeanette.  Matthew and Johnnie were blessed with 39 years of marriage before the Lord took her home.  Elaine passed away from Cancer at the age of 42.  Paula married Steven Ewald, in 1975 and they have two boys, Samuel, who has two children, and Thomas who has three children.   

Matthew worked as a meter reader and meter reader supervisor for the local electric co-op in DeRidder, Louisiana, for ten years retiring in 1992.  Upon retirement, he traveled to many places but maintained his home in DeRidder.  

Matthew moved to Manilla to live with his daughter Paula and her husband Steven Ewald in 2009.  He moved to the Manilla Manor 2-1/2 years ago where enjoyed being with friends.  

He is survived by his daughter, Paula (Steven) Ewald; Grandsons Samuel (Annetta) Ewald, Thomas (Candice) Ewald; Great Grandchildren Isaiah, Lane, Maddox, Aric, and Adelyn.  

In lieu of flowers please donate to your local Food Pantry.


An Old Man’s Remembrance  

The old man sits in his wheel chair as he watches his great grandchildren run and play; a sparkle in his eye and a slight smile proves that he is remembering a time when his legs were the fastest around.  Well, there weren’t many friends left to attest to that fact, he realized.   

He remembers a young girl with dark hair and brown eyes that was as swift as the wind that flew through her hair as she ran to meet him.  Just a bit of a thing – not even a hundred pounds soak and wet!  But she was like pure gold to him and he loved her with all of his heart.  She kept him on his toes and caused him to care about things that he would normally not even consider important.  She brought joy to his days and life to his years.  She was his one and only wife – the love of his life.  She would have enjoyed all of these young ones that he was now watching as they flew high up in their swings with laughter rippling from their lips.   

These generations of children are the result of their love for one another; really, it is the result of prior generations that have led to this very moment that he was enjoying.  No one person was more important than another; they were all loved and together they created a large and loving family that he was so glad to be a part of.  He smiled as one of the little girls left her swing and ran up to hug him around his neck and plant a butterfly kiss on his cheek.  “I love you so much, Gramps,” she said.  As she ran off to play again the old man looked toward heaven and with a tear slipping down his cheek said, “She’s one of ours, my love, one of many.”   

Paula Ewald 9/13/15