Louella Jean Matson

Louella Matson, known to her friends as Lou, passed away on May 16, 2019 in Seattle, WA at the age of 90. Born Louella Jean Clark in Bellingham, WA on May 27, 1928, she was the second of three children of Lewis and Flora Clark. Lou grew up with loving parents and a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins in Bellingham. She married Larry Matson, also of Bellingham, and the couple settled in Seattle in 1946, later moving to Bellevue to raise their two children. The marriage ended in divorce in 1978.

Lou was a lifelong Democrat with a special concern for workers’ rights. She was proud of her family history of labor organizing. One uncle became a prominent union organizer during the Great Depression, later serving as regional director of the CIO. She was, herself, a member of the Retail Clerk’s Union, retiring in 1990 from Stoll’s Madison Park Bakery in Seattle. Outgoing and gregarious, she made many friends among her customers in Madison Park.

After her retirement Lou enjoyed traveling with family to Europe and looked forward to winter getaways to various sunny destinations. She was fond of musical theater, especially Broadway shows, and loved the numerous opportunities she had to visit New York. She was a wonderful cook and a gracious and generous host. Her greatest pleasure of all was spending time with her adult children and her two grandsons. They were truly her pride and joy, as anyone who knew her would attest.

Lou was elated to celebrate her 90th birthday surrounded by friends and family last year. After that event she remarked that she felt complete, that she didn’t need to make it to 91, that she had had a great life and was ready to “go.” And, so it was, that she passed away just shy of her 91st birthday.

Lou was preceded in death by her parents and her two brothers, Donald Clark and Richard Clark. She is survived by her son Chris Matson (Sharon Howard) of Seattle, daughter Gayle Matson of Chico, CA, her grandsons Ben Lansky (Emily) of Oakland, CA, and Sam Lansky of West Hollywood, CA, and several nephews and nieces. Her nephew Dennis Clark was especially dear to her. At Lou’s request, no memorial service was held. The family will gather to celebrate her life and peaceful passing in private. Contributions in Lou’s memory may be made to BrightFocus Foundation, a charity to help find cures for macular degeneration. https://www.brightfocus.org/donate