A memorial service for Garland Eugene Matthews, Jr., 89, of Emory, will be held on Saturday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m., at Broecker Funeral Home in Salado. A graveside dedication will immediately follow at the north end of the Old Salado Cemetery.
Mr. Matthews died on May 27, 2026. He was born on April 11, 1937, in Austin, to Garland Eugene Matthews, Sr. and Rosa Taylor Bacot.
Mr. Matthews’ family moved frequently when he was a child, and he attended 16 different schools before graduating from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth. He later graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s degree in Business, focusing on Advertising. While at UT, he met Elizabeth Mae Hix at University United Methodist Church. They married and raised two children together.
After early sales experience with Shaw Walker in Dallas, he founded Matthews Bank Equipment and Supply Company. He later established Corporate Identities, Inc., becoming one of the early leaders in Dallas’ advertising specialties industry.
Mr. Matthews was deeply dedicated to his family and remained actively involved in his children’s lives — coaching soccer and supporting the band programs during their school years. He was also a longtime member of the Dallas – Town North Optimist Club from the early 1970s until about 2005.
He loved the outdoors and staying active. He enjoyed fishing, water skiing, snow skiing, tennis, racquetball, and ping pong. He truly enjoyed gathering with family and relatives for lively games of 42 (Texas dominoes). After more than 30 years of marriage, Garland and Elizabeth divorced. In the late 1990s, he met Nancy Greene, and they shared a devoted and loving relationship for the rest of his life.
Mr. Matthews is survived by his son, Kenneth Lee Matthews; daughter, Lauren Kaye Matthews Stiles; and grandchildren, Taylor Dawson Buchel, Faith Dawson, Goldie Dawson, Pierce Dawson, and Gunner Stiles; sister, Virginia Culpepper; Elizabeth Hix Matthews; and Nancy Greene.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at Broecker Funeral Home, located at 949 West Village Road, Salado, TX 76571.
All attendees are invited to join the family for a meal and gathering at The Shed Restaurant, 220 Royal St, Salado, TX 76571, at approximately 3:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Optimist International Foundation at PO Box 952126, St. Louis, MO 63195 or online at https://www.oifoundation.org/us-canada-donate.cfm.