Calvin Matthey

Calvin Matthey passed away July 30, 2022. He was a dedicated RN specializing in ICU. A caring son, brother, uncle, and friend, Cal was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Irene, and life partner, Rick Fore.

Surviving family include siblings, Ethel Matthey, Bob Matthey (Sue), Joyce Matthey Lewis, William Matthey (Sharon) and partner, Richard Smith. He is also survived by 9 nieces and nephews as well as multiple great nieces and nephews. He was loved and will be missed.

Born in San Antonio, TX., in 1951, Cal entered the world being special. He was born prematurely and daddy built a special germ-free room with a glass window so we could see in but germs would be kept out.

That made him feel special in several ways, but one which siblings were not sure they approved of: Cal loved mashed potatoes and Mama would fix a little bowl of mashed potatoes at most meals just for him.

As a young man, he grew up Catholic and was an altar boy at El Carmen Catholic Church. Not being satisfied with being an altar boy, he saw the need for a pianist/organist and set out to teach himself to play the piano for services.

In high school at Southside High School, he was a member of the band and used that experience to get a music scholarship to Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. Being versatile musically, Cal also sang in several college choirs over the years and continued to like choral music throughout his life.

Cal continued to like music, but felt that he could help people more if he went into the field of nursing. He went to San Antonio College and got certified as anRN. He was a nurse mainly in the Baptist hospital system and was highly thought of by his colleagues. They were so complimentary of him, saying that he was not only dedicated but so gentle with each patient.

Cal found out what it was like to be on the other end of nursing when in 2013 he was diagnosed with cancer: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was aware of how he looked with no hair but found a couple of cute hats to wear.

Throughout the years he fought cancer, he was so blessed to have a good friend who was able to provide him with transportation and support. That friend was Rick Smith, and there was no better friend.  Cal had no reoccurrence, so he considered himself “cured”.

As patient as Cal was with his nursing patients, during the many years Mama needed to be taken to the doctor or needed meds re-ordered, patience was what he needed a lot of. What earned him extra shine on his star in heaven was that he lived in town and her home was the old homestead 10 miles out in the country and he travelled the 20 miles many times. She was a difficult taskmaster but he pretty much stayed patient. One can’t help but be reminded of all those bowls of mashed potatoes and what the consequences had become one way or the other.

Cal was always especially interested in the activities of his nieces and nephews. He made it a point to call them on a regular basis and always tried to guide and support them.

Cal never had any children of his own, but over the years, his dogs and cats were his special buddies. Thus, he transferred his caring ways from nursing patients to his four-legged “children.”

He and I had a special bond, since he was born when I was 10 years old and I treated him like a little doll and rode him around in his baby buggy. For many years, he called me every Sunday evening and when I asked him what he was doing, he would say, “Well, I’m sitting in the back yard, pulling weeds.” I guess when I pull weeds in my yard now, I may think of him, and I will certainly miss those Sunday evening phone calls.

Cal is not with us now, but we can guess that he would want us to support cancer research, so in lieu of flowers, please send donations to any cancer research group.

The Funeral Service for Calvin will be held at Schertz Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 9th, 2022 at 11:00 AM.