Oral Dee "Chuck" Matney

Oral Dee Matney, 90, passed away Tuesday morning, May 9, 2017, at Taylor House. He closed his eyes in slumber that evening and opened them up in paradise.

Oral, or Chuck as he was known by friends and family, was born on October 20, 1926, in Gas City, Kansas. He and his family moved to Des Moines, Iowa when he was 3 years old, and is where he lived the remainder of his life.

Chuck was a retired truck driver for H&W Motor Freight, and a proud Teamster member. It was while he worked for New Monarch in the early 1950s that he met the love of his life, Mary Heuer, with whom he celebrated 63 years of marriage. Together they built a loving home for three children, Dan Matney, Patsy Lehman, and Terri Earles.

Chuck was a United States Air Force veteran during the Korean Conflict, an experience he enjoyed talking about to new friends and old. He was an avid gardener, enjoyed watching old westerns, talking on his CB radio, and reading his newspaper.

Besides his three children, he will be greatly missed by five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Hazel Ealey and nieces and nephews in Illinois. He was preceded in death by his father, Harry Matney Sr., his mother, Mildred Matney, a brother, Harry Matney Jr., and his beloved wife, Mary.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed immediately by funeral service at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Services will conclude with burial at Avon Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Chuck. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

“We thought that there were so many more ‘tomorrows’ to live, but now we must cherish all those ‘yesterdays’ we so lovingly shared.”

“Weep not for he, thy departed, for he was not the body. He was the mind, and the soul. He lives and loves.”

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