Doris Buchanan Matthews

Doris Buchanan Matthews, age 93, of Asheville, entered the Church Triumphant upon her death at Greentree Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center on August 25, 2026.

Born on September 26, 1932, in the Powder Mill Community of Avery County, NC, she was one of eleven children born to the late Eden V. Buchanan and the late Martha McKinney Buchanan. For thirty-three years she was the loving and devoted wife of the late James David Matthews, Jr., until his death on June 26, 1987.

Mrs. Matthews was a graduate of the Asheville Farm School in Swannanoa, a school founded by the Women’s Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. She later received an associate degree from Warren Wilson College. Doris then attended and graduated from Mission Hospital School of Nursing. She became an RN and practiced nursing for many years at Memorial Mission Hospital. Most of her 30 plus years at Mission, she was the charge nurse and then head nurse of the Post Partum department of Memorial Mission.

Doris, along with her husband Dave, were founding and devoted members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Since 2013 she attended Beverly Hills Baptist Church and served faithfully with the women of the church and in other volunteer capacities.

She is survived by two sons, James David Matthews III and his wife, Judy, of Waynesville, NC, and Eden Lee Matthews of Asheville; a sister, Lucy Buchanan Smith of the Ingalls Community of Avery County, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews who loved and cherished her dearly.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Matthews was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Patricia Lynne Matthews, who passed away at two weeks of age on December 27, 1963; four brothers, Rev. Ralph L. Buchanan, Albert Buchanan, Richard Buchanan, and Sanford Buchanan; and five sisters, Mabel Freeman, Alma Campbell, Amanda Jones, Mary Buchanan, and Carrie Higgins.

The funeral service to celebrate and honor the life of Doris B. Matthews will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, at Beverly Hills Baptist Church. Dr. Buddy Corbin officiating. Her family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at Lewis Memorial Park, 415 Beaverdam Road.

The family would like to thank the staff of Greentree Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center and the Four Seasons Hospice for the love and care they provided their mother while in their care. The family would also like to especially thank Don Funderud for his faithful friendship during this journey.

Those wishing to do so may contribute in her memory to Beverly Hills Baptist Church, 777 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805.