"Sally" Leonida Collier-Mataska Holt

“Sally” Leonida Collier-Mataska-Holt, age 93, of Archer City, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026. She was born on September 12, 1932, in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Sally lived a long and meaningful life defined by love for her family, quiet strength, and deep roots in her community. She worked for many years as the head cook at the Wichita Falls Women’s Forum, as well as at the Wichita Falls Livestock Sale Barn Café. An exceptional cook, Sally was well known for her hospitality. No one ever left her home hungry, and feeding others was one of the many ways she showed her love.

She enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially fishing, tending to her large garden, and caring for her chickens and fresh eggs. Above all else, Sally cherished her family, and her grandchildren were the true joy of her life.

Sally’s home was a gathering place, especially for her grandchildren. She loved hosting big sleepovers with as many grandchildren as she could fit under her roof. New Year’s Eve was a favorite tradition, when everyone would ring in the new year from the front yard, laughing as they mooned a car or two passing by at the stroke of midnight. Those moments became family legends that will be remembered and retold for generations.

She was famous for letting her grandchildren get away with just about anything, especially the things their parents would never allow. Sally believed childhood should be filled with laughter and fun, and she carried a playful, mischievous spirit well into her later years. She had her own special habits that her grandchildren adored, including adding an impressive amount of salt to her food and even more salt to her lemon juice drinks, a special treat she loved to make and share with them.

Sally also loved taking her grandchildren to the store to buy lottery tickets and would jokingly pretend to run from the police by spinning her tires at stop signs, something she proudly called merging. Sally also loved the simpler things in life, like an ice cold “red draw” or a family game of poker. She would pretend not to know what she was doing, only to quietly take everyone’s money by the end of the night.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Collier and Eula Barnes Collier; her first husband, Charles Mataska; her second husband, Phillip Holt; and all of her siblings, Doc Collier, Neil Collier, Rip Collier, Jack Collier, Joe Collier, Janice Kay Herring, Pody Doyle, and Patsy Hoepfner. She was also preceded in death by her son, Larry Mataska; her son-in-law, Chuck Knox; her twin grandsons, Chuck and Buddy Knox; her grandson, Daniel Mataska; and her granddaughter, Heidi Mataska.

Sally is survived by her children, Ray Mataska and wife Becky, Wayne Mataska and wife Lillie, Eva “Sis” Skipworth and husband Ken, and Angie Knox; as well as thirteen grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren, and fifteen great-great grandchildren.

Sally was known for her warm smile, quick wit, and unmistakable sense of humor. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose presence brought joy, laughter, and comfort to those around her. She will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know her.

The family will receive friends and family for viewing from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home, located at 1317 9th Street, Wichita Falls, Texas.  Funeral services honoring Sally’s life will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the Owens and Brumley Funeral Home Chapel, followed by a graveside ceremony at Crestview Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 2101 Archer City Highway, Wichita Falls, Texas under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley.com