William “Memo” Y. Matus
April 19, 1928 – February 15, 2025
William “Memo” Y. Matus passed peacefully at home in Patagonia, AZ on Saturday, February 15, 2025, surrounded by family.
Born on April 19, 1928 in Harshaw, AZ to Manuel C. Matus of Lochiel, AZ and Francisca Yourgules of Harshaw, AZ., Memo was a life-long resident of Harshaw, Lochiel, Mowry and Patagonia. He was a member of one of the pioneer families of the surrounding area. During his childhood, Memo attended school at Red Rock, Harshaw, Patagonia Elementary and Little Red.
As a young man he quickly became a cowboy, working at various activities on several local ranches, including the Vaca Ranch, Green Cattle Co. San Rafael, Empire Ranch, El Rancho Grande, Valle Verde and years later, the Rail X Ranch.
Memo was also a miner at the Trench Mine in Harshaw, AZ, and in 1961 he literally moved his house by cutting it in half and hauling it from Harshaw to a lot in Patagonia where he and his wife Carmen and his girls laid roots. The house was purchased from Robert Lenon II and moved with help from family members and his friends Jack Turner and Joaquin (Jack) Quiroga.
Later in his life, he could be found most often taking inventory, loading feed sacks and bales of hay, and visiting with locals and friends at the family’s Big Foot Feed and Supply store and later the Alamo Country Store in Patagonia.
Memo is predeceased by his wife, Carmen Rivera Matus, his infant daughter Amy Louise Matus, sisters Mercedes “Chelita” Matus Pesqueira and Anna Matus Acuña, and grandsons John William “Bill” Montanez and Charles Morriss. He is survived by his daughters Emma Matus Voss (Art), and Cynthia “Cindy” Matus Morriss (Ronald); granddaughters Aimee Naegelin Varela (Ricky), Samantha Morriss Collins (Michael) and Rhonda Morriss Bothwell (Allen); great-grandchildren Emily, Johnny, James, Alexis, Ellianna, Kayleigh, and Tommy; great-great-grandchildren Aubrey Camila, Jubilee, and Johnny Mateo; brother Manuel “Manny” Matus (Cassie) of Chandler, AZ, and in California, half-brothers Alvaro, Oscar and Hector Robles; and many nieces and nephews.
Memo was a keeper of stories and he shared them with anyone who would sit with him and listen. He leaves his family with fond and cherished memories, tear-evoking laughter from a collection of self-authored jokes and stories, and a family tree that continues to expand from his line of pioneer roots. Happy trails to you, Memo, until we meet again.