Matthew Kenneth Stevens

Matthew Kenneth Stevens, 66, of Santa Fe went to be with our Heavenly Father on August 1, 2020 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Matt is predeceased by his father, William K. Stevens Jr.; mother, Mary Stevens Rourke; step-father, John W. Rourke; sister, Teresa Stevens Finn; grandparents William K. (Kelly) and Clara Stevens, and Matthew and Catherine Antichevich.

Matt is survived by his longtime companion, Sarah (Bevis) White, brother Mark Stevens (wife, Liane) of Galveston, sister Marilyn Stevens Haupt (husband, Karl) of El Campo, nieces, nephews, aunts, numerous cousins, countless friends, and four tried and true buddies, Jack Robinson, Gary Wheeler, Tommy Cauley, and Richard Williams.

The majority of Matt’s career was with the State of Texas DOT where he retired from as an engineer on the Galveston Ferry. He worked as a master electrician for most of his career as well. His love of engineering began as a teenager when he learned to build and rebuild engines for his go-carts. These go-carts soon turned into race cars that he spent countless hours working on in his parents’ garage. He spent many weekends with Jack at the Houston International Raceway enjoying his youth. Matt’s love of cars and motorcycles continued throughout his life. The final car he built and one that he was most proud of was a roadster “The T-bucket”.

Matts’ knowledge and extensive skill level included more than motors. There was little he could not design, build, or fix. He was the go-to man for friends to get advice from about home building and repair, plumbing, and electrical work to name just a few areas. He was a lifelong learner that was continually challenging himself to discover new information and most importantly learn and master new skills. Matt was quite intellectually gifted and freely shared his knowledge and assistance as a teacher with anyone willing to learn.

Matt was blessed to have time to indulge in his hobbies. Throughout the years, Matt enjoyed hunting, water skiing, fishing, and karaoke. Music was a major part of his life. It was always playing in the background anywhere he was enjoying life. He enjoyed an eclectic genre of music but he was always an old country music fan at heart. Matt had a good singing voice and was known to get on stage to sing and sometimes join in with one of his favorites, Gary P. He was also a tremendous dancer and could glide across the floor like very few could. He always had a dance partner.

Matt really ‘lived’ his 66 years on this Earth. He loved being surrounded by family and friends, sharing stories or a joke, and laughing over a cold beer or a Crown and Sprite. He always said that the lives we live are not rehearsal but rather the real thing so make the most of it… all the time. Matt lived by this credo. Those who were a part of his life are truly blessed to have had the ‘experience of Matt’. He was truly one of a kind and will never be forgotten. To some, Matt may have appeared to be a crusty, salty old man with a very colorful vocabulary but, for those who truly knew him, they saw and understood the kind and generous soul deep within this man.

A celebration of Matt’s life will be held at a later time when we can safely gather to raise a glass to this incredibly fun and brilliant man. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Matt’s name to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org.

Matt, we know you are now with friends and family members who have gone before us. Y’all are sitting at a table in a breezeway in heaven. So dear friend, save us a seat and have an Old Fashioned waiting for us. Till then… “Cheers!”