Edwin Merl Matticks
February 16, 1929 - May 19, 2015
Edwin Merl Matticks, age 86, longtime La Plata, MO, resident, died Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at Loch Haven, in Macon, MO, from complications of congestive heart failure and arterial disease.
Born February 16, 1929, in Elmer, MO, he was the son of Harry Eugene and Georgia (Berry) Matticks, and was always known as Merl. After attending grade school in Elmer, he graduated from La Plata High School in 1946. On September 21, 1947, at the Community Presbyterian Church, in La Plata, he married Shirley A. Grear.
Called to service during the Korean War, he served his country in the Marine Corps. For most of his career, he was employed in the Signal and Safety Departments of the Santa Fe Railroad, retiring as Supervisor of Signals on the Illinois Division, 3rd and 4th Districts, in 1989. He also owned the Palace Café in La Plata at one time.
Mr. Matticks was a member of the American Legion, Reynolds Martin Post 282, serving as Commander, receiving 50-year membership recognition in the American Legion and the La Plata Masonic Lodge No. 237 AF & AM. He was also active in the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry S. J., USA Valley of Columbia; North Central Missouri Scottish Rite Club; Shriners of North America Molia Temple, St. Joseph, MO; El Kadir Shrine Association, Inc., Kirksville, MO; and Loyal Order of Moose, Kirksville, MO, Number 1751. A member of
La Plata Community Presbyterian Church , he was an ordained Elder, having served on the Session and as a Trustee.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shirley, of Loch Haven, Macon, MO; son, Neal Matticks of New York, NY; daughter, Gwen Gash of Dallas, TX; son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Toni Matticks of Kirksville, MO; 3 grandchildren, Shandra (Joe) Montalvo of Mansfield, TX, Cara Soliday of Frisco, TX, Chase Matticks of St. Louis, MO; 3 great- grandchildren; Ethan and Ryan Montalvo and Sydney Soliday, all of Texas; sister-in-law, Lenora Grear of La Plata, MO; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Harry Don Matticks, brother-in-law and wife, Ronald B. and Jeanine Grear, brother-in-law Wilsey Gene Grear, and nephew, Wilsey G. Grear, Jr.
Merl will be remembered by a host of friends and neighbors as a gifted conversationalist, who reveled in telling stories and jokes, and for how he enjoyed his career with the railroad.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2015, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Travis Funeral Chapel, La Plata, with Masonic rites at 7:00pm.
Funeral Services for Merl Matticks will be held at 2:00pm, Sunday, May 24, 2015, Community Presbyterian Church, La Plata, MO, with Rev. John Becker as officiant. Pallbearers are Tom Marshall, Wison Belt, Kelly Snipes, Louis Berry, Raymond Phipps, and Jack Lawson. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Bullock, Leland Collins, and Charlie Thompson. Burial with Military Honors will be in the La Plata Cemetery.
A reception following the service and burial will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Community Presbyterian Church, hosted by his immediate family.
Memorial gifts in Merl’s name for the La Plata Public Library may be left at or mailed to Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, MO.
