April 29, 1942 - July 30, 2011
Joe Matt Herndon, age 69 of Hope, Arkansas passed away, Saturday, July 30, 2011 at his home in Hope. Mr. Herndon was born, Wednesday, April 29, 1942 in Hope, Arkansas to Rufus Herndon, Jr. and Geneva Higgason Herndon.
Joe Matt as he was called was the Owner and Operator of The Herndon Funeral Home in Hope, a licensed embalmer and funeral director for the State of Arkansas holding, embalmer license #1285 and funeral director license #1450. During his retirement years he worked with Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home of H Joe Matt was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Hope, a member of the Hope Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club of Hope and served two terms as President of the Hope Rotary Club. Joe Matt was an avid fisherman, hunter and a great supporter of the Yellow Creek Hunting Club. Joe Matt is a former player of Bobcat Football, wearing #15 and starting with the Senior Bobcats as a freshman. It was said of Joe Matt as being the meanest and toughest fullback for the Bobcats during his playing years. Joe Matt is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 29 years, Linda Purtle Herndon and his brother, Rufus Herndon,III.
Joe Matt is survived by his devoted daughters; Wendy Gay Beck and husband, Randy of Little Rock and Nicole Jay Herndon of Hope and one grand-daugther Ashley Nicole Beck of New York City, New York, his two sisters; Ginny Herndon Patton Summerville, her husband, Bobby of Atlanta, Georgia, Margie Lyn Whitehead and husband, Robert of Texarkana, Arkansas and many neices, nephews and friends. Joe Matt fought a good fight, but his battle with his stroke is over and he is now at peace in his heavenly home.
The Herndon Family will receive friends, 6:00 to 8:00pm, Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home.
Funeral service for Joe Matt will be 10:00am, Thursday, August 4, at the First Baptist Church of Hope. Bro. Mark Fischer will officiate the service. Burial to follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com