Donald Edwin Matthews

Donald (Don) E. Matthews was born on December 31, 1948 in Baytown, Texas to Eugene and Hazel Huggins Matthews. At an early age they moved to Houston, Texas. He left this earth to be with the Lord and Jesus Christ on December 12, 2011. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Hazel Matthews; father and mother-in-law, Marion Herrington, Ruth Herrington Dinkel and step father-in-law, Paul Dinkel.

Don and Mary Ann, attended church at Coady Baptist Church in Baytown, Texas with their Pastor Rick Olsen and Don read his Bible faithfully every day. Don enjoyed many past times but his favorite was to be around his granddaughter's Shannon and Makayla Hartman. Don loved to fish, hunt and boat, he also loved to deer hunt with his friend Carl in the hill country and with his friend David at his ranch outside of San Antonio, Texas. Don never met a stranger and willing to help everyone in need, Don always said he was born 100 years too late, as he loved the outdoors and would have been a mountain man. Don had a large collection of buffalos and enjoyed being with North American Indians.

Don graduated from Reagan High School in Houston, Texas in 1969 and joined the U.S. Navy. Don served 3 tours around Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1973. In 1986 he married Mary Ann Herrington Hartman and received a much loved step son Monty Hartman, which he always referred to as a son instead of a step son.

Don is survived by his loving wife Mary Ann; son Monty Hartman; granddaughters, Shannon and Makayla Hartman; Shannon's fiancée, Matthew Berry; Dottie Watson who he referred to as a sister from Casper, WY; Shannon's and Makayla's mother, Angie Hartman and their little sister Navaeh; Two Brothers-in-law, Max Herrington of Atlantic, Iowa and Jim Herrington and wife Rosemary of Marion, Iowa, and special friend of Don and Mary Ann's Lois Johnston in Des Moines, Iowa, who called everyday and Essie Jackson in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, and a special friend Amy Olsen in Baytown, Texas. Don Leaves a much loved Aunt Gladys, nephew, nieces, cousins and many friends.

Rest in peace Don, god bless and we love you.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., at Earthman Funeral Home, with the funeral services following at 10:00 a.m., in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at Houston National Cemetery.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Eddie Smith, Carl Davis, Jeff Martin, Ralph Edward, Billy Wallace, David Flores and Matthew Berry.

Donations may be made in Don’s name to Goodfellows, (http://goodfellows.org)

Arrangements under the direction of Earthman Baytown Funeral Home, Baytown, TX.