Jerry L. Matter

Gerald “Jerry” Lee Matter was born on July 3, 1944 in Bellingham, WA to Paul and Harriet (Tapp) Matter.  He grew up in Lynden and graduated from Lynden High in 1962.  He passed away on April 5, 2015 at St. Francis Care Center in Bellingham.

He met his future wife, Ellen Ten Kley, while cruising Birch Bay on a sunny Easter Sunday afternoon.  They were married August 21, 1964.  They have 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.  They recently celebrated 50 years together.

Jerry was well known in Whatcom County for his love of softball.  He coached, played and umpired for many years.  He was instrumental in raising funds to install the outfield fences around the softball diamonds at Bender Fields.  He was an avid hunter and eagerly anticipated the yearly hunting trip to Eastern Washington with his son, Randy and friends.  He was a longtime member of Faith Reformed Church in Lynden where he taught Sunday School, served as deacon, sang in the choir and served on many committees.  Jerry and Ellen built a house on the Kamm Road in Lynden in 1973 and lived there for 41 years before relocating to Bellingham in 2014.  He worked for Gordon Bedlington and Copeland Lumber prior to starting his own construction company in 1976.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steve.  He is survived by his loving wife, Ellen, Children, Christine Heintz, Randy (Cherrie), and Paula (Tyler) Felix;  grandchildren, Justin and Chandler Heintz, Cassie Jean Matter, Ashley (Haug) Lower, Brandon Haug, Andy Lovelace and Aaron (Leah) Marion;  great-grandchildren, Dustin Lower, Abigail, James and Sam Marion and Aiden Larsen.  He is also survived by his sister Karen (Norm) Chamberlin and brother Brad and in-laws Minnie Ten Kley, Mary Ann (Lloyd) DeVries, Judy Howell, Gerald (Divina) Ten Kley, Linda (Jack) Wiebusch, Bonnie (Larry) Miller and Don (Joan) Ten Kley and numerous aunts, uncles, cousin, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015, 11:00 PM, at Faith Reformed Church, 7th and Liberty in Lynden.