William Y. Matus

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 Cruz Matus of Lochiel, AZ and Francisca Martinez Yourgules of Harshaw, AZ. 

Memo was a life-long resident of Harshaw, Lochiel, Mowry, and Patagonia. He was a member of a pioneer family 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 at the Rail X Ranch for 23 years for Ray and Virginia Rich and later Count Ferdinand von Galen. Memo was also a miner at the Trench Mine in Harshaw, AZ for a short time. In 1961 he literally moved his house by cutting it in half and hauling it down from the Trench Mine mountain near Harshaw to a lot on Pennsylvania Avenue 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. Memo then doubled the living area of the home using his own labor and assistance from his brothers-in-law, Jose and Miguel Rivera and friends. The home stands today because it was built to last. 

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 subsequently the Alamo Country Store located on McKeown Avenue in Patagonia. 

Memo is predeceased by his wife of over 70 years of marriage, Carmen Rivera Matus, his infant daughter Amy Louise Matus, sisters Mercedes “Chelita” Matus Pesqueira, Anna Matus Acuña, Ramona “Ruby” Barron Garcia, Susie Cadena, Frances “Panchita” Corral, Lydia Gannan, Ida R. Torres, Josefina “Josie” Iduarte, grandsons, John William “Bill” Montanez and Charles T. 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 Thomas (Braden), Johnny Montañez (Brandi) James Varela, Alexis Montañez (Alberto) Ellianna Varela, Kayleigh Varela, and Tommy Montañez, great-great-grandchildren Aubrey Camila, Jubilee, and Johnny Mateo. Brother Manuel “Manny” Matus (Cassie) of Chandler, AZ, and from Fresno, California, brothers Alvaro Robles (Mercy), Hector Robles (Angie) Oscar Robles (Velma), and his childhood best friend and Uncle, Mike Martinez Yourgules of Rio Rico, AZ along with 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, his values and his love of family along with tear-evoking laughter from a collection of self-authored jokes, riddles and stories both in English and in Spanish. 

Memo had a good life and leaves a family tree that expands from his pioneer roots. 

We will miss our Dad, Uncle, Tata Memo and Grandpa very much. 

Happy trails to you, Memo, until we meet again.