Howard Paul Matlock

Howard Paul Matlock passed away peacefully following a brief battle with lung cancer, with his family by his side. Born and raised in Plainwell, he graduated from High School in 1967. His parents, Harley and Arla (Livingston) Matlock, raised Howard alongside his three siblings Jim, Pat, and Barb. He married his wife of 47 years, Joanne (Leighton), on April 14,1974. Together, they raised their three children Ray (Reed), Angela (Calderon), and Matthew (Matlock). Howard worked as a journeyman meat cutter for Meijer corporation for over 20 years, retiring in 2015. He made many friends and even after retirement, met a group of co-workers once a month for lunch. He and Joanne also went on several trips, taking cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska, and going south to North Carolina to stay in a cabin. Howard was a loving grandfather to his eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, who have spent countless hours at Gravel Lake swimming, fishing, and boating. He often took his grandsons deer hunting, and they continue to have a love of the sport. He also loved taking care of his Chihuahuas Taco and Billy, and his basset hound Lucy. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. Due to the pandemic, there will be no service at this time. Please visit Howard’s personalized webpage to sign the online guestbook and to share a story, memory, or experience at https://www.starksfamilyfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 7100 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49009.