Lawrence Wayne Matson
Lawrence Wayne Matson, of League City, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2020 at his home in League City at the age of 75. He was born on December 31, 1944 in Wilmington, Delaware to Lawrence and Marguerite Matson. Larry had a love of outdoors, taking many adventures hiking, canoeing, camping and traveling. His Air Force training lead him to work at NASA. He thrived in the exploration and problem solving opportunities with NASA, working with various labs and development of new technologies to support the space industry. Larry spent several years working in the Oil and Gas industry allowing him to travel all over the world. Larry made friends wherever he travelled. His family fondly remembers Larry entertaining many of the international friends with all the US traditions, crawfish boils, barbecues, and all the oddities of Texas. Everyone who knew him has a comical story (or fifty) involving Larry. He enjoyed sharing his love of science as a docent with the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Larry is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters Kim Stratton and Teresa Peneguy, son Larry Matson, sisters Sandy Margist, Bonnie Race, Sharon Pierson, Jeanne Freeman, grandchildren Patricia Stratton, Beth Stratton, Brianna Ellingham, Koleby Matson, Edward Matson, Elise Peneguy, Aubrey Peneguy, great grandson Jameson Ellingham and many other loving family and friends. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being set-up with the Houston Museum of Natural Science. https://www.hmns.org/sa/index.php
Larry was a very special friend. He was helping me with talks for the museum just a few weeks ago and his input was very valuable. He had a wonderful thirst for knowledge and getting that knowledge out to others. I hope I will be able to continue some of his work, but he was so much more versatile than I could ever hope to be. He will be sorely missed. I know this must be a very difficult for your family, know that others feel his loss with you.
Larry was a vital member of Early Investigations. He was literally a “jack of all trades”. Anything that we needed help with he would do: filming training videos, putting together generators, finding books at Costco, donating silk cocoons, making stickers for kids and of course leading tours. He was truly a kind and generous man. He will be greatly missed.
Larry was a man with great character, compassion, and sense of humor. I am honored and proud to have had such a friend for over 50 years. He was one of my most memorable co-workers during our time at JSC. I will miss him immensely. I offer my most sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.
I very sorry for your loss i was in that same position when my father past away 10 years ago i know that pain that y’all are gonna go threw but at least y’all have each other to help one another to help go threw this years my father past away from cancer
Your family are in my prayers for y’all’s love one just remember y’all can carry him or keep him in yalls heart where ever y’all go to different parts of the world…. Just remember now y’all have a angel who can keep a eye on y’all and the whole family
I know Larry as a docent at Houston Museum of Natural Science. He was a talented man who was committed to teaching science. He will be greatly missed. To his family: You have my deepest sympathy.
What a special guy! Where ever he was in the museum he added his joy of learning and sharing his expertise in so many ways. I’m looking at the Energy sticker he gave me like his assortment he wore on his shirt when at the museum. He was a unique blend of intelligence, practical knowledge and love of people! He will be missed.
I met Larry while I volunteered at HMNS this past year. We shared a number of tours. He had a wide knowledge of the information we presented but was always willing to listen and learn. He had the mission of passing on knowledge with great attitude. I always enjoyed working with him and he will be sorely missed.
Ruben Sanchez
My condolences to the Matson family… I know how hard it is to lose a love one my prayers to the family. Larry RIP
Ed Chamrad
Larry was one of the “good” guys, always a positive attitude and a great guy to work with.
He was a fishing and camping partner of Dac & My boss. But he wasn’t very smart, when they went camping they always had to carry out what they carried in. Larry carried the tent, tools, etc. Our boss carried in the food & water. On the way out, Larry this had a full pack, our boss’s pack was mostly empty. Talked to him about it one day, told him I thought he was being taken advantage of.
I know the Lord has a great place for him.
Bret Laws
As Ed said, he was a good guy. I did not know Larry well. He took a leadership role in Jacobs during a tumultuous time for us and gave me an opportunity based on recommendations from a few people on this distribution. He didn’t know me, but gave me an opportunity that led to where I am today. Please send my condolences to the Matson family.
Victor Murray
Larry was charter member of the gang of “Tank Tigers” who rode the NASA Chambers starting in Building 32 during the Apollo Days. As time went on and we moved to the various buildings, finished our education and moved up the ladder, our friendship and professional association continued. Larry always looked out for us and helped in the enhancement of our careers. After his retirement we continued to keep in touch and annually got together on our birthdays for lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant. Saturday morning charity runs, golf, parties and visits with our buddies who were experiencing health challenges continued, those were the hallmarks of our fifty plus years of friendship.
Larry was a great Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and always shared his love of family with us and was very proud and involved with his kids, grandkids and in-laws.
His text last week was shocking and unbelievable as it said “I will miss your happiness and wisdom”. Larry my Pal May you continue to Rest in Peace we all will miss you for your Happiness and Wisdom.
Larry shared so much of his heart, time, and energy with the volunteer program and the museum at large, and we are all better for it. I very much enjoyed and appreciated learning from him, as I’m sure have fellow volunteers and hundreds of young minds coming through our doors. The volunteer office and museum will feel emptier without Larry there. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on.
Virtual hugs and all the best to Larry’s family. You are in my thoughts.
Larry was a generous and versatile member of the Volunteer Guild at HMNS. I feel honored to have known him and worked with him. He will be greatly missed.
-ii
I met Larry when I came to work for Lockheed. He was kind and considerate and always willing to help. At one time he was my direct boss and I had the opportunity of a lifetime to take a European cruise! In asking to take two weeks off, he said “go, get out of here!” and began my love of cruising. Thank you Larry for the experience of working with you, the humor you always had in any event. Condolences to family and friends. Prayers of comfort to all.
We are all fortunate to have known and worked with Larry. He had a great heart and personality. He always greeted you with a big smile and story. Never one to talk about himself but focusing on the needs of the museum and his fellow volunteers. He had a wealth of knowledge and an enjoyable way of presenting it. Larry was one of those people that you hoped would show up when you were doing group tours because you knew he would give a fun and informative tour. Our best to his family for having shared such a fine man with us.
I was so looking forward to seeing him again at the museum. I learned a lot from him while waiting for the kids to take on tour. Such a nice, fun, knowledgeable and helpful man.
Dear Barbara and Family: I have such great memories of Larry that go back 50 plus years. Richard and I always enjoyed Larry. Larry had tons of personal charisma and was always a real go getter. I will miss him. Linda Hermling
Larry and I were Monday morning docent “coffee buddies” at the HMNS on HISD days. He was always willing and enthusiastic to share his bagel and knowledge about so many aspects of the museum. Once when I was tasked with taking students through a hall I knew nothing about, Larry took 30 minutes of his time to walk me through the hall so I could give a rudimentary tour. He inspired me to really learn the hall. He was generous with his time and energy. He will be greatly missed. May Larry’s memory be for a blessing. My condolences to his family.
I miss Larry and it will take some time to get over losing him. Larry was one of those good guys, the kind you remember after you meet them. We met when we became managers together, and worked like that for 30 years or more. Larry, Ray and I spent many nights on the banks of the San Marcos River camping, kayaking and fishing down the river all day. In the evening we sat out in a field watching the stars, satellites and Shuttle and ISS pass overhead, sometimes with a little Scotch. Those were times we will fondly remember. Many stories came out of those trips, like the time Larry….. well, never mind about that. Larry was knowledgeable, easy going (at least in the outdoors), and kind. He was quite an outdoorsman. Now I’m sure he’s fulfilling his next assignment right there on the banks of the river of his latest assignment. May he rest in peace.
I could write a book on all the adventures or should I say misadventures that Larry and I shared. There’s the Peacock Alarm Clock…, the Salt Coffee…, Swimming with Electronics…, Spending the Night with a Skunk…, just to mention a few. They were some of the best memories of my life. Larry was a great people person, innovative engineer, manager, volunteer, and friend to all. I don’t think he ever met a stranger. By the way Ed, you got it backwards. Larry was the smart one. He carried the food and I carried all the other stuff. Most of the time he would take pity on me and share the load hiking out. He was also a master chef when it came to fixing a wonderful meal with nothing more than a skillet and a single burner camp stove. You wouldn’t think you could finish a strenuous backpacking trip and end up weighing more than when you started, but we managed it many times. I will really miss the adventures, but most of all, I will miss my friend.
He was my neighbor. Truly disappointed I did not know him better. He was always offering fruit off his many fruit trees. My condolences to his family! Cyndi De Palermo
Larry and I had several adventures. He was one hellava guy. He will be missed.