Jerry Joseph Matous Jr. passed away at home on May 7, 2020 earning his place in Heaven. He was born on the family farm to Jerry Sr. and Francis (Vlk) Matous September 10, 1931, one of 10 children and the oldest son. Farming was in his blood and he learned his craft at his father's side before and after school and on summer breaks. When he left school, he traveled north working with the traveling combines harvesting fields along the way.

When he was of age, he and two of his friends decided to join the Marine Corps, but Jerry was very slim then and he could not pass the weight requirements. Determined, he went home and ate lots of oatmeal, and tried it again the next day. It took him three days of eating to meet the minimum and be sworn in and his whole life changed. He completed six weeks of basic training at camp Pendleton in California and he was on the USS Gen John Pope on its last trip before refurbishment, headed for Korea. Jerry spent his time on the front lines fighting in the coldest conditions ever experienced by American troops. He was injured twice and was awarded two purple hearts but he turned them down because he knew his mom would receive them stateside and he didn't want her to worry. Upon completing his tour of duty he again found himself sailing on the USS Gen John Pope on its first excursion since its refurbishment, back to the States. The rest of his enlistment was spent stationed at Camp Lejune in North Carolina as Sgt. Of Arms over the brig. Jerry spoke very little about his time in Korea preferring to talk about his adventures in the brig with his three coharts who together with him "ran the brig". These stories always held happy memories for him with fairytale endings like the one leading to his whirlwind adventure of deciding to get married while on a 30-day leave to a girl he met on the wheat harvest but had not spoken to since his return from Korea. On July 30, 1954, Jerry and Marilyn Ulrickson were married in Topeka Kansas.

After being discharged, Jerry and Marilyn relocated to Dallas, then to Mesquite where he worked for U-Haul for a time before starting a heating and air company with one of his former "brig buddies." in 1968, they acquired one of the houses set for demolition for the last expansion of the runway at Love Field Airport and had it moved to an acre of land on the west border of the farm. Here the adventure continued with a never ending job of remodeling and adding on to their home. Over the years, Jerry and his brothers started many different companies performing a wide variety of job titles, everything from carpenters to worm, rabbit and quail farming. After selling their last joint company, Ennis U Rent, Jerry tried to retire but found he could not do it cold turkey. He went to his shed and began crafting beautiful furniture, yard art, walking canes, and fixing whatever anyone dropped off that was broken. When Marilyn was killed in September of 2000, Jerry lost his will. He spent several years living in Crystal Beach but like the wildlife he loves so much, he returned home and 2005 where he remained until his death.

Jerry was truly a good husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to anyone who needed him refusing to turn his back on anyone he loved, always praying they would someday find their way. To say he is going to be missed is an understatement of biblical proportions but somehow we will carry on.

Survivors include his son, Michael Matous and wife Glenda, daughter, Tammy (Matous) Prewitt and husband Jackie, daughter Jana (Matous-Stewart) Lutz and husband Wayne, grandchildren, Travis, Becky, Tabitha, Bradley, Brandee, Bethany, and Jacob and their spouses, Seventeen great-grandchildren, one great great grandchild, brothers George and wife Barbara, Joseph, Walter and wife Margie, Bob and wife Dian, sisters, Helen and husband Joe Barak, JoAnn Baw, Peggy and husband Luis Marroquin, sisters-in-law, Virginia Reeder and Carolyn Ulrickson, faithful companions, Harley and Beau, and numerous friends and family members.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his wife's parents, Ira and Ethel Ulrickson, and infant son, Patrick M. Matous, his brother, John Matous and his wife Jenny, his sister, Francis (Matous) Novotny and her husband Jerry, his sister-in-law, Helen (Bush) Matous, sisters-in-law, Edith Blake and husband Jim, Iris Hemry and husband Jack, Joyce Ulrickson, Rosemary and husband Bruce, brothers-in-law, Oliver Ulrickson and Harvey Reeder, son-in-law, Windon R Stewart, and his Marine brother, Morris Dobbins and his wife Augustine.

Our family would like to express our sincere thanks and eternal gratitude to Traditions Hospice for their loving care and support.  And a special thank you to Monica Mathys, (Dallas VA) for too many years to count, always being there to listen and help.

A Visitation and Rosary will be held 4-6:00 PM, Sunday May 10, 2020 at Waxahachie Funeral Home. There will be a graveside service Monday, May 11, 2020 at St. Joseph Cemetery, 401 E. Lampasas, Ennis, Texas.