Obituary of Edward R. Matson

Age 83, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida passed away on Monday, August 20, 2018 in Elmira. A funeral service will be held in Hammondsport, NY on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., St. James Episcopal Church, corner of Lake And Main Sts., with Reverend Lynne Sharp officiating. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service, at the church, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Ed was born in Highland Park, MI to Martha (Royce) and Edward I. Matson on July 29, 1935. He went to high school at the Leelanau School for Boys and graduated in 1954. He went on to earn a business degree from Michigan State University. He worked in sales and marketing in the packaging industry and finished his career with Howell Packaging as a Vice President. Ed continued to serve Howell as a member of the Board of Directors. He was involved with his homeowners association in Vermont and president of his homeowners association in Florida. Ed was also president of the men's golf association at PGA National in Florida. He was very active and particularly enjoyed spending time at the lake, skiing, participating in master's swimming, playing the piano and a lot of golf. Ed is survived by his daughter Robin M. Kelley and husband Colin M. Kelley of Malvern, PA; son Ned R. Matson and wife Jessica S. Matson of Exeter, NH; daughter Amy M. Hyland and husband David C. Hyland of Cincinnati, OH; his grandchildren, Caroline, Claire, Carter, Ryan, Michael, Nicholas, Katie and Nathan. He is also survived by his sister Sue (Matson) Knowles of Dover, MA, as well as many nieces and nephews. Ed is predeceased by his first wife Donna (Roberts) Matson, and his second wife Ellen (Patton) Gibbs Matson. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the YMCA of Ithaca, 50 Graham Rd. W. Ithaca, NY 14850. Ed had a lifelong love of swimming and the other things the organization represents.