Obituary— Hardie Matthews
Hardie Barnett Matthews Jr., 93, died Sunday, November 29, 2020, in Webster, Texas. He was born in El Paso, Texas on April 23, 1927, to parents Hardie Sr. and Emma Matthews, both of whom preceded him in death. Van Horn Elementary was one of 10 schools Hardie attended before college. Hardie became a personal friend to late Advocate Editor, Robert Morales and continued to communicate with Lisa Morton at the Advocate until his passing. He was a featured writer for The Advocate in 2016, writing about his experiences in WWII at the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. The reprint of his story was in two-parts titled “The Smell of Dachau”. Hardie did not want us to ever forget Hitler’s Third Reich and its atrocities. Hardie had explained that visions of Van Horn’s beautiful purple mountains is what kept him alive during the war and he always considered Van Horn his adopted hometown.
Hardie served proudly in World War II as a corporal with the 4th Army in Europe and in the Korean War with the 8th Army, Hardie was honorably discharged from the Army in 1952. He enjoyed many interests over the years, none more than creative writing. He was an active member of the Pasadena Writers Club and of the Toastmasters organization. He even went as far as to write his own book titled “Henry’s New Life.” Having a devout love for God, Hardie was a member of the St. Christopher Epsicopal Church in League City, Texas.
Hardie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Technical University and attended some 21 universities over his many years of adult life. He married Doris Elaine Blumberg Oct. 26, 1957. He obtained his teaching certification from Sul Ross State University and advanced to become a teacher for the U.S. military in Germany where he and his wife adopted their two children Anette and David. Hardie was married a second time in his life to Sybil Blanche Eagle and remained married until her passing in 2017. He taught at Pasadena High School for 13 years.
He is survived by daughter Anette D. Monroe and husband Ron Monroe and son David D. Matthews Sr. and wife Donna Matthews; and stepchildren Barbara Watkins and her husband George, Joanne Eagle and her husband Steve, John Eagle and his wife Jeanne, Patricia Eagle and Donna Rankin. Hardie had 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
He will most be remembered for his unique sense of humor and his utmost love for his family. Funeral services were held at Crowder Funeral Home in Webster, Texas on December 3rd.
