William 'Bill' Grant Matson Jr.

“He fought the good fight

And now he rests”

    William Grant (Bill) Matson Jr, of Fort Macleod, AB, passed away on July 28, 2022, at the age of 78 years young.  Bill fought the good fight right to the very end, but even as strong willed and stubborn as he was, and we all know he was, the scourge known as cancer took him away far too soon.

    Bill is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 59 years, Maureen (Mo) Matson, 2 rotten sons, Keith(Jenn) Matson of Fort Macleod and Kevin(Binky) Matson of Lethbridge,  4 Grandsons< Cole Matson (Kayla) of Lethbridge, Brady Matson (Chantelle) of Lethbridge, Tate Matson of Fort Macleod (for now), and Nathaniel Matson of Okotoks, and his favorite (read only) granddaughter Gabrielle Matson of Okotoks, who can no longer hit Grandpa with those puppy dog eyes to get her way. Dad also leaves behind 2 siblings, little brother Dennis (Pat) Matson of Lethbridge and baby sister Terry Large of Calgary: Maureen's siblings Roger (Dixie) McAdam, Cicine (Francis) Smith, Betty Carbert (Darryl Piehl) and Sue (Andy) Reeves, a whole whack of cousins, nieces and nephews whom all loved Uncle Bill dearly and his very close friends Sam and Wendy Medd and Tim Bradley.

    Predeceasing Bill were his parents Grant and Iva Matson; his in-laws Tom and Ouida McAdam; his nephew Stephen Eisenhuth; his brother-in-law Barry Large; his sister-in-law Sandra Bradley and nephew-in-law Todd Desautel.

    Bill was born March 14, 1944, in Cardston, AB, the oldest of 3 children, to Grant and Iva (Lowry) Matson. He grew up on the family farm in the Raley area just a few miles out of Cardston.

    When Bill left school, he worked in construction for a few years. One job he always looked back on with fondness was operating earth movers while working on the Waterton dam, he liked those big machines. He then held various jobs for a few years before moving to Edmonton, taking on an indoor job as an electrical draftsman. Not the kind of job for an outdoors man. Fast forward, he found his niche managing water for Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District, later moving on to Alberta Environment, where he was employed for 25 years, finishing his working career as a technician.

    Bill and Maureen met in junior high school, but never “found” each other at that time. In 1962, after Bill was finished with his scholastic endeavors, Maureen caught his eye, they dated for a year and were married in June of 1963. To this union were born their two sons, Keith (The Golden Boy) and Kevin (The Black Sheep), an endearing term for the two sons which became a family joke for over 3 decades.

    Bill had two passions in life: hiking and his family. His family was his reason for being. He nurtured, loved and supported his family in all that they did and found ways to enhance their lives whenever and wherever he could. Bill loved his grandchildren with all that he had and showed that love by his support of their endeavours. 

    The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of 3C for their excellent care and support: to Dr. Koegler and Nurse Deb for their prehospital care and to Dr. Benke and Nurse Tanya and the Jack Ady Cancer Centre Team for all their care.

    Bill was a very private person and, as such, did not like, as he would say "a fuss made over him". We will honour his wishes by having a private family time and there will be no funeral or formal service.

    If one so wishes, donations to the Jack Ady Cancer Centre would be gratefully accepted in lieu of flowers.

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