October 26, 1928 - May 30, 2016
Roy A. Matson passed away on the family farm near Newport WA on May 30th, 2016. He was born on the family farm near Aneta N.D. on October 23, 1928. He was the son of Clifford and Inga (Sherve) Matson and one of eight children. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946 and served for eight years. Roy served in the Korean Conflict in 1951 and 1952 with I Corps and was attached to the 2nd R.O.K. Division. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a C.B.I. Roy was Honorably Discharged in 1952. In 1952 he married the love of his life Alyce Burchard and remained married for the next 64 years. In 1953 he hired on with the Great Northern Railway where he worked for 38 years. In 1965 Roy was transferred to Spokane, WA to work as a baggage man on the Spokane to Havre Montana run. He later went back to Havre Montana to work freight trains. He then went to work for AMTRAK on the Spokane to Seattle passenger run as a Conductor. He retired in 1991. Roy was a lifetime member of the Eagles and the VFW. In 2000 Roy, Alyce and Cliff spent two months motoring through Alaska. He was the last surving member of his immediate family. He is survived by his wife Alyce; and two of his sons, Cliff Matson and Steve Matson, both of Newport WA; his son and daughter Douglas and Alisa Matson and Debra Matson of Spokane, WA and Dennis and Melaine Matson of Walla Walla WA. Roy also raised Gary Burchard of Spokane. Roy also has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday June 11, 2016 at 1pm; location will be The American Lutheran Church at 332801 US-2, Newport, WA 99156. And in Honor of his service to our Country, the inurnment will take place 2:15 p.m., Monday June 13, 2016 at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.
