Jimmy Ray Matus, 52, died Wednesday, April 17, 2013, in the tragic explosion in West, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m., Monday, at the church by Janice Kaluza. Visitation will follow until 8 p.m. at the church with Rev. Ed Karasek officiating.
Jimmy was born in Waco, Texas, to Raymond Rudolf and Lillian Frances (Soukup) Matus. He attended St. Mary's School, was a 1979 graduate of West High School, and also attended MCC. He grew up spending summers at his Uncle Raymond and Aunt Rosie Knapeks' house, where he developed his love of all things farm related. Jimmy started working at his family business, Westex Welding & Fire Apparatus, at a very young age. He continued to work there for the next 40 years, the last 20 managing all aspects of the business. On May 11, 2002, he married Gail Bradburry.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, SPJST Lodge 54, Sokol West, where he served as past president, the State Fireman's Association, and was an honorary member of the Masonic Lodge in West. Jimmy also served on the West ISD school board and played the role of Santa Claus for many organizations including Sokol and the City of West. Jimmy loved to buy and sell equipment, attend fire shows, spend time with his children and grandchildren, and he also loved all his pets and farm animals.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, on December 3, 2011.
Survivors include his son, Dustin Matus and fiancée, Becca Wright, of West; daughter, Jennifer Kalina and fiancé, Brian Walker, of Lorena; step-daughters, Heather Roberson and Derek Barnes, of Bosqueville and Karry Dornak and husband, Jeff, of Spring; grandchildren, Alana, Hailey, Hanna, Ava, and Aaden; his parents, Raymond and Lillian Matus, of West; sisters, Kathy Matus and Cindy Matus, both of West; brother, Thomas Matus and wife, Ruth Ann, of Chalk Bluff; nieces, Whitney Dudik and husband, Martin, Emily Matus, and Taylor Matus; great-nieces, Lillie and Audrey; in-laws, Ivan and Florence Bradburry, of Elm Mott; brother-in-law, Curtis Bradburry and partner, Bruce Harrison, of China Spring; sisters-in-law, Cathy Bradburry, and Sherry Matus and husband, Ben, all of West; the mother of his children, Edwina Powell; and many other relatives and friends.
Jimmy was born in Waco, Texas, to Raymond Rudolf and Lillian Frances (Soukup) Matus. He attended St. Mary's School, was a 1979 graduate of West High School, and also attended MCC. He grew up spending summers at his Uncle Raymond and Aunt Rosie Knapeks' house, where he developed his love of all things farm related. Jimmy started working at his family business, Westex Welding & Fire Apparatus, at a very young age. He continued to work there for the next 40 years, the last 20 managing all aspects of the business. On May 11, 2002, he married Gail Bradburry.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, SPJST Lodge 54, Sokol West, where he served as past president, the State Fireman's Association, and was an honorary member of the Masonic Lodge in West. Jimmy also served on the West ISD school board and played the role of Santa Claus for many organizations including Sokol and the City of West. Jimmy loved to buy and sell equipment, attend fire shows, spend time with his children and grandchildren, and he also loved all his pets and farm animals.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, on December 3, 2011.
Survivors include his son, Dustin Matus and fiancée, Becca Wright, of West; daughter, Jennifer Kalina and fiancé, Brian Walker, of Lorena; step-daughters, Heather Roberson and Derek Barnes, of Bosqueville and Karry Dornak and husband, Jeff, of Spring; grandchildren, Alana, Hailey, Hanna, Ava, and Aaden; his parents, Raymond and Lillian Matus, of West; sisters, Kathy Matus and Cindy Matus, both of West; brother, Thomas Matus and wife, Ruth Ann, of Chalk Bluff; nieces, Whitney Dudik and husband, Martin, Emily Matus, and Taylor Matus; great-nieces, Lillie and Audrey; in-laws, Ivan and Florence Bradburry, of Elm Mott; brother-in-law, Curtis Bradburry and partner, Bruce Harrison, of China Spring; sisters-in-law, Cathy Bradburry, and Sherry Matus and husband, Ben, all of West; the mother of his children, Edwina Powell; and many other relatives and friends.
Jimmy Ray Matus, 52, died Wednesday, April 17, 2013, in the tragic explosion in West, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m., Monday, at the church by Janice Kaluza. Visitation will follow until 8 p.m. at the church with Rev. Ed Karasek officiating.
Jimmy was born in Waco, Texas, to Raymond Rudolf and Lillian Frances (Soukup) Matus. He attended St. Mary's School, was a 1979 graduate of West High School, and also attended MCC. He grew up spending summers at his Uncle Raymond and Aunt Rosie Knapeks' house, where he developed his love of all things farm related. Jimmy started working at his family business, Westex Welding & Fire Apparatus, at a very young age. He continued to work there for the next 40 years, the last 20 managing all aspects of the business. On May 11, 2002, he married Gail Bradburry.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, SPJST Lodge 54, Sokol West, where he served as past president, the State Fireman's Association, and was an honorary member of the Masonic Lodge in West. Jimmy also served on the West ISD school board and played the role of Santa Claus for many organizations including Sokol and the City of West. Jimmy loved to buy and sell equipment, attend fire shows, spend time with his children and grandchildren, and he also loved all his pets and farm animals.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, on December 3, 2011.
Survivors include his son, Dustin Matus and fiancée, Becca Wright, of West; daughter, Jennifer Kalina and fiancé, Brian Walker, of Lorena; step-daughters, Heather Roberson and Derek Barnes, of Bosqueville and Karry Dornak and husband, Jeff, of Spring; grandchildren, Alana, Hailey, Hanna, Ava, and Aaden; his parents, Raymond and Lillian Matus, of West; sisters, Kathy Matus and Cindy Matus, both of West; brother, Thomas Matus and wife, Ruth Ann, of Chalk Bluff; nieces, Whitney Dudik and husband, Martin, Emily Matus, and Taylor Matus; great-nieces, Lillie and Audrey; in-laws, Ivan and Florence Bradburry, of Elm Mott; brother-in-law, Curtis Bradburry and partner, Bruce Harrison, of China Spring; sisters-in-law, Cathy Bradburry, and Sherry Matus and husband, Ben, all of West; the mother of his children, Edwina Powell; and many other relatives and friends.
Jimmy was born in Waco, Texas, to Raymond Rudolf and Lillian Frances (Soukup) Matus. He attended St. Mary's School, was a 1979 graduate of West High School, and also attended MCC. He grew up spending summers at his Uncle Raymond and Aunt Rosie Knapeks' house, where he developed his love of all things farm related. Jimmy started working at his family business, Westex Welding & Fire Apparatus, at a very young age. He continued to work there for the next 40 years, the last 20 managing all aspects of the business. On May 11, 2002, he married Gail Bradburry.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, SPJST Lodge 54, Sokol West, where he served as past president, the State Fireman's Association, and was an honorary member of the Masonic Lodge in West. Jimmy also served on the West ISD school board and played the role of Santa Claus for many organizations including Sokol and the City of West. Jimmy loved to buy and sell equipment, attend fire shows, spend time with his children and grandchildren, and he also loved all his pets and farm animals.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, on December 3, 2011.
Survivors include his son, Dustin Matus and fiancée, Becca Wright, of West; daughter, Jennifer Kalina and fiancé, Brian Walker, of Lorena; step-daughters, Heather Roberson and Derek Barnes, of Bosqueville and Karry Dornak and husband, Jeff, of Spring; grandchildren, Alana, Hailey, Hanna, Ava, and Aaden; his parents, Raymond and Lillian Matus, of West; sisters, Kathy Matus and Cindy Matus, both of West; brother, Thomas Matus and wife, Ruth Ann, of Chalk Bluff; nieces, Whitney Dudik and husband, Martin, Emily Matus, and Taylor Matus; great-nieces, Lillie and Audrey; in-laws, Ivan and Florence Bradburry, of Elm Mott; brother-in-law, Curtis Bradburry and partner, Bruce Harrison, of China Spring; sisters-in-law, Cathy Bradburry, and Sherry Matus and husband, Ben, all of West; the mother of his children, Edwina Powell; and many other relatives and friends.
