Juanita Matheny

Rockport, TX


Juanita Alice Matheny


On August 1st, 2018, Juanita Alice Matheny, of Rockport Texas, aged 79, went to be with the Lord.

Juanita is survived by her husband of 58 years, Howard Matheny. Her son and daughter in law, Rodney and Debra Matheny. Her grandchildren, Christina Matheny, Rhonda Moore, Garth Matheny, and Rodney James Matheny. Her great grandchildren Natalie, Noah, Nicholas Moore, and Bryn Matheny.

Juanita was born on March 16th, 1939 in Springfield, Ohio. She met her husband Howard in 1959 at his place of employment in the Post Office in Marathon, Florida Keys. They were married a year later and welcomed their only sweet boy Rodney. Howard retired as Postmaster in 1987. After their son Rodney left for the army, and Howard retired, Juanita and Howard enjoyed traveling many places together. Juanita loved to travel. She visited Europe, the Holy Land, The Mayans, Guatemala, Mexico, and many places in the United States. Juanita and Howard found the west of the United States to be very beautiful. They did most of their travels exploring Indian Ruins with Juanita on the back of Howard's Motorcycle! A passion of Juanita's was archeology. She made her passion come to life by returning to college and graduated at the University of Florida with a bachelor of arts studying archeology in 1989. She was a docent at the museum at the University of Florida.

Throughout her entire life, Juanita impressed loved ones, friends, and strangers with her many talents. As a child she was very active in dance. Juanita was an excellent cook, preparing large meals for the holidays. Her husband can often be heard saying at restaurants, "It's good, but not as good as my wife's", and her grandchildren looked forward to family dinners hosted by their small smiling grandmother. Juanita was a talented musician. In her younger years she performed and competed in the group, The Singing Adeline's. As life took the Matheny Couple many places, Juanita was always welcomed into the churches music ministry. Juanita also found pride and joy in being a seamstress. Throughout her son Rodney's childhood, she created prize winning costumes that had the community excited to see every year. She made many dresses for herself and loved ones, including a one of a kind prom dress for her Granddaughter Rhonda. When Juanita's great grandchildren were born, she made each child a quilt designed based on the nursery and love from the parents to be. She gifted this quilt while giving a blessing from God placed upon the baby's head, a moment always bringing tears to her family's eyes. Juanita would also make baby gifts, dresses, and other creative pieces for those friends she cared for deeply. Perhaps her most memorable talent, and the largest collection of creation she leaves behind is her artwork. Juanita's artwork is unique and beautiful, ranging from canvases to shells, to live trees, but her favorite thing to create on was driftwood. Her most recent collection of art was broken pieces of wood collected after Hurricane Harvey. In a poem she wrote "Once we were fences that proudly stood, till the hurricane reduced us to Harvey Wood. Tattered and broken we fell to the ground, but someone who cared, came around. From trash to treasure, see how we've changed. Knots and swirls come to life again". She saw potential in the broken pieces and took joy in giving the broken aftermath a rebirth in the shapes of beautiful animals.

Joy is the best way to describe Juanita's Earthly life. She found joy daily, and gave so much joy to others. Her loved ones hearts hurt to lose their time with her here.

The family wishes to celebrate Juanita's life on Earth with a memorial at First Assembly of God located at 813 E Laurel St, Rockport TX on Saturday August 4th, 2018, at 10 AM.

Service