Donald Keith Matson

Donald Keith Matson, 75, of Ellettsville died Friday, November 23, 2018 in I.U. Health Hospice House. He was born on a blizzardy day, January 14, 1943 at the 3 generation Matson Home at 104 W. Temperance St., Ellettsville to Ernest Sidney Matson and Nellie Frances May Matson. He and his mother ran the Matson’s Beauty Salon and Matson’s Antique Shop. Donald was a member of the Ellettsville Bicycle Club in the late 40’s, the Ellettsville Youth Center in the early 50’s. He graduated from Ellettsville High School in 1961, acquired 10 Proficiency Test Medals, roller skated from age 6 to 70 and was a member of Skyline Roller Rink Figure and Dance Club. He loved to dance, especially the jitterbug, loved old “Popular” & Big Band, 50’s Rock N Rolland at the other end of the music spectrum, My 3 Favorite Italians “Il Volo” (opera) & remember to always keep a song in your heart. Donald enjoyed going to auctions, garage and yard sales and buying antique glass. He was a regular watcher of Jeopardy on TV, he started doing genealogy in 1959 and traced it back to several Royal Lines and as far back as Adam & Eve. He was told by many that he was related to almost everyone in Monroe County. In 1979 he published “1820-1850 Census of Monroe County and in 1981 he co-authored “Figg Leaves”. He was a Life Member of Monroe County, Indiana Historical and Genealogy Societies. He helped with and ran the “Old Picture Gallery” at the Monroe County Fall Festival in downtown Ellettsville for 12 years before it moved to its present location. He was a member of the Senior Citizens Ellettsville Club that met at the Endwright Center, and was the Historian of Ellettsville High School Alumni Association from 1994-2018. Other memberships include the Swedish Colonial Society and former member of the Sons of the American Revolution. There will be a Memorial Service at a later date, his desire was to be buried “up on the hill” at the Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery in Ellettsville with his 6 generations of maternal ancestors. Deremiah-Frye Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements.