MATTHEW JAMES BARTHOLOMEW

LAMAR- Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Lamar United Methodist Church for Matthew James Bartholomew, 51, Lamar, who died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Burial will be held Saturday, at Lake Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service on Friday, beginning at 2 p.m.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested and made payable to the "Bartholomew Education Fund" established for his children's education, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife, Gwen; two sons, Hayden James Bartholomew, Kansas City, Mo. and Mason Emory Bartholomew, Lamar; two daughters, Brittany Nicole Ashbacher and husband Aaron, Frontenac, Kan. and Eliana Karen Bartholomew, Lamar; his parents, Jim and Debra Bartholomew, Prairie Grove, Ark.; his brother, Chris Bartholomew and wife Gina, Springdale, Ark.; his mother-in-law, Karen Wegener, Lamar and three grandchildren who lovingly referred to him as "Happy", SkyLar Nicole Ashbacher, Xavier Patrick Ashbacher and Emerson Zoe "Pea Pot" Ashbacher, as well many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold and Maudileen Bartholomew and Bill and Palma Oliver; his uncle, David Bartholomew; cousins, Doug Lossing and Kara McConnell and father-in-law, Ron Wegener.

Mr. Bartholomew was born April 15, 1972, in Fayetteville, Ark., to James Ray Bartholomew and Palma Debra (Oliver) Bartholomew. He married Gwendolyn “Wendy” Rachel Wegener on June 22, 1996, in Lamar.

He was an insurance sales representative. He loved spending time with his family on their farm in Hogeye, Ark. He enjoyed hunting, taking the kids out on the "razor" and shooting snakes by the creek. He was an avid toy collector and loved cars, motorcycles and guns. He loved being with his family and friends, even if it was just talking to them on the phone bragging about his children, whether it was embarrassing or not, telling stories or reminiscing.