Lemley Chapel
Serving Sedro-Woolley &
All of Skagit County Since 1935
1008 Third Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA
360-855-1288
www.LemleyChapel.com
Earl Val Matto Memorial
Earl Val Matto Memorial

Earl Val Matto

Earl Val Matto

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Earl Val Matto, 68, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away at his home on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, surrounded by his loving family.

Earl was born on December 6, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA, the son of Earl & Lois (Verecelli) Matto.  He was raised and attended school in southern California, graduating from Gardena High School in 1958.

Earl enlisted into the U.S. Navy in July 1958, serving his country for 21 years. He saw six tours in Vietnam and was a POW until he was able to escape.

During his enlistment Earl was stationed at NAS Whidbey in Oak Harbor. There he met Suzanne Mercer and they were united in marriage in Oak Harbor on October 16, 1976.

When Earl retired from the Navy in 1980, as a AQCS E-8  Senior Chief, he made his home in the Bay area of California, working as an electrical engineer for Airco, designing aircraft electronics. He later moved to Riverside, CA where he worked for the Rohr Company, also an aviation electronics company, where he was the plant’s lead electronic engineer.

In May of 1998 Earl & family moved to Skagit County, settling in Sedro-Woolley where Earl operated a computer business, Flights of Fancy Computers.

He enjoyed older and classic cars and was a member of J.J.’s Cruiser Car Club, H.O. scale model trains, collecting gems and rocks, pleasure boating and entertaining & BBQing for family & friends.

Earl is survived by his wife, Sue at the family home in Sedro-Woolley.  His children and their spouses, Christina & Ringo Gray of Riverside, CA, Tony & Brenda Matto of Fullerton, CA, Misty & Jake Barthule of Burlington, WA and Autumn & Stuart Clark of Jacksonville, FL.  His sister and brother-in-law, Marti & Gary Poort of Orange, County, CA; eleven grandchildren, with one grandchild and two great-grandchildren arriving in the coming months and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are suggested to the Skagit Valley Hospital Cancer Care Center in memory of Earl.

A Life Celebration will be held on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at Christ the King Church, 2111 Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon and all who knew Earl are invited to attend.   A private family committal service with Military Honors will be held at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.

Guestbook

  • Jeri Hubbard

    Sue, I am so sorry to read about Earl…I will always remember his spirit when I would see him. He was such a joy to know. May God bless you at this time knowing that Earl is feeling much better now and looking forward to when I will see you again..I will miss seeing his smiling face..Jeri Hubbard Manager of Sunset Storage..

  • Jessica Henry

    I will never forget the family bbq a few years ago. All of the kids loved uncle Earl. He gave them all rides on the tractor and he was having as much fun as them. He had a welcoming smile and always a pleasure to be around. You will be missed by many Uncle Earl. Goodbye for now, until we meet again.

    With love,

    Jessica.

  • Denise Mercer

    God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms
    around you & whispered “come with me”. With tearful eyes they watched
    you, & saw you pass away. Although they loved you dearly, they couldn’t
    make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at
    rest. God broke their heart to prove to them, he only takes the best…

    Sadly missed but never forgotten. May you rest in peace and with pain no more.

  • Carolyn Ayers

    I will always remember Earl,a larger then life kind of guy.He had such a great sense of humor.I had a feeling what he said was the LAW!!I first met Earl,in 2006, when I moved to Sedro Woolley.He was always out side working with his dogs right along side of him.He was always ready to be of help when needed.His birthday was close to mine so I always enjoyed sending him a funny birthday card.I always saved the comic strip,Pickles.The man’s name in the strip was Earl.He had a whole collection of the strips that he pinned up in his work shop.Carolyn Ayers

  • Darryl & Ruth Hill

    We never met Earl but have come to know and love his daughter Christina. We pray that everyone in the family will experience God’s comfort and strong arms at this time of grief and sadness.
    Darryl and Ruth Hill

  • Christina Ann Gray

    Dad, I miss you so very much as I usualy do. Thank you for giving me life and all the things that I needed to be the strong woman I was created to be. I remember several years ago in a phone conversation I shared with you that “The older I get the smarter you get!” Well Pop, Your legacy will live on in your ways and teachings in all of your children and grandchildren! You are my Hero and I thank you first for being MY Dad and for serving Our country.
    One moment of my childhood I fondly think of is July 4th, 1976 I was 10 and was proudly hanging on to your hand walking to the Navy Exchange, I remember I always tried to keep your pace and that day it was difficult to do so. Half way through I broke out into the song Daddy don’t you walk so fast, Daddy slow down some cuz your making me run….. I still sing that song! You were a hard man to keep up with. Believe me, many tried! I watched you evolve from this big tough no joke man into a big strong teddy bear. I blessed you with your first grandchild and God blessed me with a Dad that gave me a second chance. My Dad wore many hats! He wore them all well. We will all miss you very much But don’t worry Pop, we’ll share your hats. Because of you we know how to wear them too!! With lots of love, Your Daughter Christina Ann

  • Marteen Lee (Matto) Poort

    We now say goodby to my loving brother Earl, but will always keep in in our hearts and in our thoughts. Through this we will keep him and his memory alive until we are able to be with him again in God’s house. Earl and I shared a childhood full of wonderful experiences and freedom, allowing us to follow our own paths and become the adults we were meant to be. We also shared a birthday, as I was born on his second birthday. This was special to us and we always joked about how we would never forget each others birthday. Even though the miles and health have kept us apart for the past several years, we still had a special bond that was always there. I will miss him deeply and remember him fondly. Lovingly, his sister Marty