Dr. Homer C. Matthes

Dr. Matthes to be Remembered For Generosity
By Janet Whitehead

Dr. Homer C. Matthes, 84, retired Bay City physician who received much fond recognition for his help with the community's elderly and needy, died Wednesday morning at his home.

Memorial services will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church Friday at 10 a. m. with the Rev. Hugh B. Jones Jr. officiating.

Matthews leaves his wife, Margaret Lee; his daughters, Jane Adell Cox of Selkirk Island and Ann Marie Arruda of Houston; grandchildren Karen Capak, Kurt Smith, Todd Smith, Shannon Tucker and Brendent Arruda; and five great grandchildren.

He was born Feb. 27, 1907, in Goliad to Frederick Taylor and Bertha Matthes. He received a master's degree in medical entomology from Rice University, but decided he was not altogether happy with research and writing. He then went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School Branch in Galveston, delivering ice cream to pay his way through school.

After completing medical school, he set up practice in Panama and lived there from 1938 to 1946 when he came to Bay City, where residents benefited from his skills as a surgeon, obstetrician and family physician. He stated before his retirement that he had delivered 3, 540 babies during his career.

What he was mostly noted for was his kindness and charity. He was known to make special trips to give elderly in need of treatment a ride to his office if they had no transportation. And many remember his generosity by the fees he charged to those no-so-well-off patients.

"When he retired, that left a void for those people who couldn't afford an office visit," Ruth Morgan, who works with the Matagorda County Educational Services home intervention program, said.

Awards presented to Matthes have included an Honorary Hospital staff award in April 1987 and the Woodmen of the World Outstanding Community Service Award in November 1990.

Valerie Ryman, who worked for many years as an office nurse/secretary for Matthes said, "I could write you a book (about Matthes)."

She, like others mentioned his generosity immediately. "He'd say, 'Aw heck, I'd rather give it to you than carry it on my book,'" Ryman recalled. "He never refused a patient whether they had money or not."

Ryman also said Matthes was "a wonderful boss" but "always much more of a friend."

Of the many people he influenced, Matthes' nephews Dr. Fred Matthes, Bay City pediatrician, and Dr. Russell Matthes, Bay City dentist, may be the two people most influenced by the elder Dr. Matthes.

"He was a role model that anybody would do well to follow," Dr. Fred stated. "If he were a carpenter, that's the kind of carpenter you'd want to be and if he were a teacher that's the kind of teacher you would want to be..."

The pediatrician said he went to Rice University following his uncle's example and also went to medical school because of the senior Matthes. His son, and great nephew to Dr. H. C., also benefited from the senior physician's influence and is administrator for the Matagorda County public health clinic.

Homer Clarence Matthes
By Mrs. H. C. Matthes

Homer Clarence Matthes, son of Frederick R. and Bertha Suppa Matthes, was born February 27, 1907, in Jackson County, Texas. He attended schools in Ganado and Edna. In 1929 he received a B.A. degree from Rice University in Houston, followed by a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in 1934. He then attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, receiving a doctor of medicine degree in 1938. He interned for one year at Gorgas Hospital, Ancon Panama Canal Zone, then served as a resident physician for another year and as a staff physician until 1946.

On June 10, 1939, Dr. Matthes married Margaret Martin of Houston at St. Luke's Cathedral in Ancon, Canal Zone The couple continued to reside in Ancon where their two daughters Jane and Ann were born.

On September 1, 1946, Dr. Matthes moved his family to Bay City where he went into general practice. In 1950 the M.B.M.S. Corporation erected an office building at 1100 Avenue G, and Dr. Matthes continued to practice there in 1987. He also served as medical director of Bay Villa Nursing Home and Matagorda House.

Dr. Matthes has served as president of the Four County Medical Society, on the Bay City School Board, on the Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, and on the vestry and on various committees of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. He was named Outstanding Citizen of Bay City in 1964.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume III, pages 144-145

Homer C. Matthes

Memorial services for Homer C. Matthes, 84, of Bay City will be held 10 a. m. Friday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Dr. Hugh B. Jones Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at a later date.

Dr. Matthes was born Feb. 27, 1907, to Fredrick Taylor and Bertha Suppe Matthes in Ganado and died Dec. 11, 1991, at his home.

He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lee Matthes of Bay City; daughters, Jane Adell Cox of Selkirk Island and Ann Marie Arruda of Houston; five grandchildren, Karen Capak, Kurt Smith, Todd Smith, Shannon Tucker and Brenden Arruda; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be given to St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

Services are under the direction of Dick R. Elkins of Bay City Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune

Margaret M. Matthes

A memorial service for Margaret M. Matthes, 81, of Bay City will be held 1 p. m. Tuesday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Dr. Hugh B. Jones Jr. officiating.

Mrs. Matthes was born Aug. 14, 1911 in Corpus Christi to Thomas Benjamin Martin and Etta Freeman Martin and she died Feb. 20, 1993 at her home.

She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Chautauqua and the Pink Ladies Hospital Auxiliary. Mrs. Matthes was the first woman entomologist in the state of Texas.

Survivors include two daughters, Jane Adele Cox of Selkirk Island and Ann Marie Arruda of Phoenixvile, Pa; a brother, Roy A. Martin of Houston; a sister, Janette Bareiss of Austin; five grandchildren, Karen Capak of Blessing, Kurt and Todd Smith of Bay City; Shannon Tucker of Berkley, Calif. and Brenden Arruda of Phoenixville, Pa.; and six great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Matthes was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Homer C. Matthes, Dec. 11, 1991.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Margaret Matthes Cancer Fund, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, C/O Development Office, 1515 Holcomb, Houston, 77030.

Services are under the direction of Dick R. Elkins, Bay City Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune
 

Office - 1100 Ave G
Public Health Clinic in 2013

Dr. Russell Arthur Matthes

Dr. Russell Arthur Matthes DDS, 82, of Bay City passed away Tuesday, November 27, 2007.

He was born December 2, 1924 in Bay City to the late Ruth Braden and Arthur Raymond Matthes. Russell served his country during World War II with the United States Navy, acquired a doctorate and became an Orthodontist, was a member of: the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Jesters, Shriners, Medical Benevolence Foundation, American Association of Orthodontists, First Presbyterian Church, and was a life member of VFW Post # 2438. Dr. Matthes was also very active in the Boy Scouts of America.

He is survived by: his wife, Juanita LeTulle Matthes of Bay City; two daughters, Melinda Mae Matthes of Round Rock and Cynthia Juanita Friedrich and husband Terrell of Saudi Arabia; son, James Raymond Matthes and wife LaVana Diane of Lake Jackson; brother, Dr. Fred Matthes MD of Bay City; nine grandchildren, Anita Matthes, Lela Matthes, Brooke McKinney, Juanita Paige Carmichael, Emily Eileene Baker, Braden Friedrich, Samantha Friedrich, Chelsea Friedrich, and Graeme Friedrich; four great grandchildren, Anna, Connor, Vivian, and Chance.

A Memorial Service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 1, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bay City with the Rev. John-Nelson Pope officiating.

Donations can be made to: The Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council, 2225 North Loop West, Houston, TX 77008; Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607-1460; or Charity of Choice.

Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.taylorbros.net.

Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home (979) 245-4613.

Bay City Tribune, Published December 2, 2007

Russell Matthes
By Ruth Braden Matthes

Russell was graduated from Blessing High School in 1940, and attended John Tarleton College in Stephenville until he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps in 1942. He trained at a number of bases, and was sent to the Pacific area early in 1945 as a turret gunner on a P. B. M. His squadron was in Tokyo Bay when the treaty to end the war with Japan was signed.

Russell attended Baylor University in Waco to prepare for dental school. In 1948, he married Juanita LeTulle of Bay City who was a student at TCU. After graduation from Baylor, the young couple lived in Blessing until Baylor Dental School in Dallas had a place for him. While Russell was in dental school, Jim, their first child, was born. Russell began his dental practice in BAY City, but three years later he sold his office to Dr. R. B. Kelly, and moved to Houston to study orthodontics. In 1951, he built an office on Merlin Street in Bay City, and operated there until 1985 when he moved into his new office on Avenue H. and Second Street.

Russell's and Juanita's daughter, Melinda, was born in Bay City, and their second daughter was Cynthia.  In 1985, Melina entered dental school in Houston where she lived with her daughters, Paige and Emily. Their son, Jim, married Darla Cobb in 1977, and they have two daughters, Anita and Lela. Jim was a sod grass farmer, and his hobby was exotic animals. Cynthia received her degree in drama, and completed a year of graduate study at the London School of Drama.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, page 342

Dr. Fred  Taylor Matthes

Dr. Fred Matthes
By Ruth Braden Matthes

Dr. Fred Taylor Matthes, son of Arthur and Ruth Braden Matthes, was born March 27, 1930 in Blessing, TX. He attended school in Blessing until the seventh grade when the family moved to Bay City. He graduated from Bay City High School in 1948, attended Rice University for three years, Baylor Medical School for three years, interned at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston for one year followed by a two year residency in Pediatrics.

In June of 1950, Fred married Betty Jean Gordon of Bay City. Their children were twin sons, Pat and Mike, Margaret Ann, Douglas and Ellen. In 1958, Fred and Betty returned to Bay City where he began his medical practice in pediatrics. All of their children attended and were graduated from Bay City schools. Pat was Social Service Director for Matagorda General Hospital. He married Janet and they had two daughters, Katie and Susan. Mike received his PhD degree from U. C. L. A. in experimental pathology and was associated with the University of California. He married Paula. Margaret Ann married Gary Jardee, a rancher in Ekilaka, Montana. They had four daughters, Julia, Laura Beth, Jennie and Amy. Douglas lived in Bay City where he was vice-president of Western Gulf Savings and Loan. He married Vicki and they had three children, Shelly, Kristi, and Taylor. Ellen married Mark Dodd and they had three sons, Matthew, Travis and Garrett. Ellen was an accountant at Western Gulf Savings and Loan, and Mark was a farmer.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages 342-343

Dr. Fred Taylor Matthes MD
(March 27, 1930 - December 18, 2012)