Brigadier General Jay Matthews

Brigadier General Jay A. Matthews, Jr. Jay A. Matthews, Jr. passed away on March 4, 2004. He was born to Jay A. Matthews and Mary Long Matthews on April 13, 1918 in St. Louis, MO. Jay spent his youth in San Jose, California and attended San Jose State College from 1939 to 1941 before joining the Army. He served throughout the war on both the European and Asian fronts. He met his future wife, May in 1942, at a USO dance in Austin's Driscoll Hotel. They were married from St. David's Episcopal Church on January 16, 1945. They built a home on Stamford Lane and moved in January 1949, where he resided until his death. Jay was a resident of Austin since 1943. He was a member of the Austin Jaycees and the Exchange Club. He served the Texas Adjutant Generals Department in numerous positions from 1947 to 1971 and served as Chief of Texas Emergency Operations from 1965 to 1971. He retired as Brigadier General in 1973. He edited and published the Texas Military History and was owner and publisher of the Presidial Press. He had been for many years a Fellow in the Company of Military Historians, served as Historian for the Texas 65th Legislature, and in 1990 was elected to the National Guard Hall of Honor. Jay realized a long sought achievement in completing his studies, begun at the University of Texas after the war, for a Bachelors Degree in Life Sciences from St. Edwards University. He graduated Suma Cum Laude in 1994. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Sally M. Alexander, and wife of 59 years, May McLemore Matthews. Survivors include son Jay A. Matthews III of Austin; daughter Emily M. Dunn and husband Jack of Dallas; granddaughter Hillary and grandsons Matthew and Jefferson of Dallas, son-in-law James C. Alexander of Reston, Virginia, sister Mary Hupp of San Jose, California and niece Kathy Picetti of Carmel, California. The family would like to remember their good neighbors Mark and Maureen Schwartz and family and Kit and Bob Gwen; dear friends Dorothy Nell and Wesley Henderson, Tom Munerland, Susan and Caroline Bergstrom, and Betty and Ted Bronstad of Cranfills Gap, Texas for their friendship, care and compassion. A special thanks is offered to those whose generous and loving assistance made easier his final days; Fran Pierce, Patsy Hanna , Bonnie Ramos and the administrators, nurses and staff at Robinson Creek Hospice and Westminster Health Care Center. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 2205 Moffett, Austin, Texas 78703, the Museum Fund or Chapel Fund of Camp Mabry, POB 5218, Austin, Texas 78757, or the American Cancer Society, POB 149100, Austin, Texas 78714. Funeral services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Windsor Road at Exposition at 11 am Wednesday, March 10, 2004 in Austin followed by internment in the National Cemetery at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com