John Edward Matson
1949-2022

John Matson, a caring husband, father, and grandfather who loved golf, fishing, and cooking, died of cancer at the age of 72 in his home in Murray, Utah on April 17, 2022.

At the age of 17, John began dating the future love of his life, Patti Snarr, while they were juniors at Highland High School. Although they would finish high school as sweethearts, their love would have to wait.

After attending the University of Utah and culinary arts school, John moved to the Bay area and in 1976 became the promotion director for Victoria Station steakhouses at their San Francisco headquarters. During this time, he lived in Corte Madera, California, in Marin County, one of his favorite areas, and developed a passion for collecting antiques and tracing his family lineage.

From 1977 to 1981, John was married to Mary Holly Genthon. In 1978, they had a daughter, Cori Holly Matson.

After leaving the Bay area in the early 1980s, John served as a volunteer firefighter in Park City, Utah. He eventually returned to the hospitality world and had ownership stakes in places such as Green Street Pub in Salt Lake City and Pond’s Lodge in Island Park, Idaho.

While living in Island Park after opening Pond’s Loge, John built homes and cabins in the recreation area. He also became an expert fly fisherman, developing a technique to teach people to cast to Beethoven’s “5^th Symphony.”

Fly fishing allowed John to shift careers in the 1990s to become a deep-sea fly-fishing guide in Mexico. Through the company he founded, Baja Fly Fishing, John showed people how to catch even the biggest ocean fish – including tuna and marlin – on a fly rod.

It was around this time John reconnected with Patti and rekindled their high school romance. They were married April 17, 1997 and remained married until John’s death on their silver anniversary. During their marriage, they lived in Island Park, Idaho and Driggs, Idaho before moving to Murray, Utah.

After moving to Utah, John became an avid golfer who made many great friends through the senior men’s league at Mick Riley Gold Course. Along with their weekly rounds, the group traveled to other courses around the state.

John was a caring father for his daughter, Cori, and a trusted stepfather for Patti’s three children. He especially loved his five grandchildren, who will always remember their beloved “Tata” as the grandfather who made incredible ribs, told great jokes, and make them feel like the center of his universe.

John is survived by his wife, Patti, his daughter Cori (Mike Keuler), his stepchildren Josh (Dani Johnson), Travis (Brooke Syme), and Allie (Matt Thomas), and grandchildren Maddox, Emma, Miles, Alex and Charlie. He is also survived by his siblings, Richard Matson and Marilyn Jones, and he was preceded in death by his brother Paul Matson.

A celebration of life will be held in John’s honor this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations to the First Tee Utah (firstteeutah.org) are encouraged. Per his request, John’s body is being donated to the University of Utah for medical research.