A memorial service will be held Saturday for Marge Matthews, a former town librarian remembered for her sympathetic nature and sense of humor.

She died on May 8 in Boise, Idaho, from complications of a stroke. The service begins 1:30 p.m. at the Haines Presbyterian Church.

Matthews was born Dec. 26, 1923, one of three children of Peter Rohrer, a crane engineer, and wife Clara. Her birth came during a power outage and a doctor had to ski to the family's home to deliver her, family members said.

Marge received her teaching certificate in Duluth and taught at four elementary schools in Minnesota before being hired to teach first grade in Skagway in 1953. While there, she met Clifford Matthews, a heavy equipment operator for the territorial highway department. They married in 1955.

The family moved to Haines in 1956, when Clifford was transferred here. Marge stepped down from teaching to raise her own three children. When Clifford died in 1976, she worked as a cook at the Head Start program. She served as librarian of the Haines Public Library in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"She was just a wonderfully kind and knowledgeable person. She had a wonderful sense of humor," said Georgia Haisler, who served on the library board when Matthews was librarian. Matthews, who succeeded Marge Busby as librarian, joked about people calling her "the other Marge" and named her dog Ichabod, Haisler said. "Just the way she said (Ichabod) was funny... Marge always had something humorous to say that carried the day."

Daughter Patti Day said her mother enjoyed practical jokes. Once on April Fool's Day she made cream puffs and invited children from the neighborhood to share. "They were the worst cream puffs ever because they were stuffed with cooked oatmeal."

Public library worker Reba Heaton said she remembers absorbing the books in the library's humor section when she was a junior high student and Matthews was librarian. Heaton said she was surprised at high school graduation to receive $5 from Matthews. "I remember thanking her and she said she did it for all the kids."

Day said her mother took a genuine interest in others. "She had an amazing capacity for love, and an appreciation and tolerance of people. She always had time for people, and it wasn't an act. She had a tolerance and acceptance that I wished I had."

Matthews enjoyed all types of literature and could recite poetry from memory "like crazy," her daughter said. She was active in the Haines Woman's Club and in the Presbyterian Church. She was an avid gardener whose roses and vegetables were admired by neighbors on Comstock Road, daughter Day said.

Matthews was a volunteer judge and longtime entrant in the Southeast Alaska State Fair. Later in life she enjoyed spending time at Chilkat State Park. "She always liked to go out and watch the water, waves and sun. It was her quiet time," her daughter said.

Matthews lived in Haines until 2012. She is survived by sons Tom Matthews and Hal Matthews of Haines, by daughter Patti Day of Boise, and by nephew Gene Clark of Haines and his family. She is preceded in death by a brother and sister.

Donations in Matthews' name can be made to Hospice of Haines, P.O. Box 1034, Haines, AK 99827.