Pawnee — Cecil Wayne Mathews, 79, of Pawnee, Illinois, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at Heritage Health in Springfield. Cecil was born Dec. 30, 1938, in Auburn, the son of Cecil R. and Gertrude S. Glenn Matthews. He married Bonita C. Butler June 1, 1964, in Washington. Cecil was preceded in death by his parents; two stepfathers, Samuel Bracken Brewer and Vern Harris; and his brother Richard Brewer. Cecil was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired in 1975 as a chief boatswain's mate after 20 years of service. He was a member of the Pawnee Assembly of God Church. He later worked as a human resources representative for Commonwealth Edison, retiring in 1994. Cecil was an emergency medical technician and paramedic for the Pawnee Ambulance Squad and served as the Emergency Service Disaster Agency coordinator in Pawnee for eight years. He also was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 350 in Taylorville, serving as vice president of IBEW's union. Cecil is survived by his wife, Bonita, of Pawnee; one son, William B. (wife, Carol) Mathews, of Pawnee; one daughter, Stacey L. (husband, Steve) Agans, of Lexington; four grandchildren; one brother, Dennis L. (wife, Cindy) Brewer, of Normal; one sister, Sharon Sue (husband, Hank) Bertles, of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, at Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at the funeral home with Rev. A.B. Bennett officiating. Burial with military honors will be conducted by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield. Contributions honoring Cecil's memory may be made to Pawnee EMS, 711 Eighth St., Pawnee, IL 62558. Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is serving the family of Cecil Mathews.