Betty Ann Matthies

Betty Ann Dolle Matthies, age 90 of Seguin, passed away on August 4, 2025. Betty Ann was born on September 23, 1934 in Guadalupe County, Texas, to Frances (Butler) and Henry Dolle. Betty Ann was born and raised in Guadalupe County, attended the Dowdy School, and graduated from Seguin High School, Class of 1953. She graduated from Seton Nursing School in 1956 and was licensed as a Registered Nurse. She received a certificate in Hospital Administration from Trinity University in 1978. Her career in health care spanned seven decades.
On July 21, 1957 she married C. H. "Pokey" Matthies, and they moved to San Antonio where she worked at the Nix Hospital. They returned to Seguin in 1961 where Betty Ann began working in the operating room of the old Siepman and Hazard Hospital which had been purchased by the City/County. She was instrumental in helping establish the new hospital on Court Street in 1965, in fact she was part of the small crew who trucked the equipment over to the much anticipated modern facility. In 1971 Betty Ann was promoted to the pivotal role of Director of Nurses and Assistant Administrator. She helped to usher in many exciting changes from Guadalupe Valley Hospital to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, while always exemplifying her uncompromising values of excellence, compassion and service to others.
After the unexpected death in 1999 of her beloved husband and life companion Pokey, Betty Ann was asked to fill his term on the Seguin City Council. After fulfilling that role for four years, she retired from GRMC and served as the Mayor of Seguin for two terms. After fulfilling those two terms she accepted the City's nomination to serve on the Hospital Board and did so until 2022. She also served for years on the Seguin Housing Commission and on the SAWS water board.
Betty Ann and Pokey were devoted members of First Methodist Church in Seguin. Always eager to learn and an avid reader, she was a longtime member of the local Shakespeare Club and enrolled in an art appreciation course in the 1980's at Texas Lutheran University. In addition, she was a renowned hunter, proudly bagging a big deer each fall. She had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, had an incredible memory that could recall the smallest of details regarding everyone she met, and was famous for her exquisite Christmas rum cake.
Betty Ann is preceded in death by her husband C. H. "Pokey" Matthies, Jr., her parents, and her sister, Louise Fuselier and husband Ralph.
Survivors include her cherished children, C. Henry Matthies, III, Elizabeth Matthies Kelly and husband Bill, and Wesley Matthies and wife Marnie; grandchildren, Amanda Dunn and husband Ryan, Sarah Kappel, and Trevor Truesdell; great-grandchildren, Dolly Ann Dunn, and Wyatt Daniel Dunn; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving family members and a host of friends including her Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Family and her City of Seguin Family.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025 at First Methodist Church at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Jim Price and the Reverend Ray Perales officiating. A reception will follow in the Christian Life Center (CLC).
Serving as pallbearers will be Nolan Lange, Scott Garrett, Andrew Glover, Ryan Dunn, Allen Wilson, and Lawrence Sampleton.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Robert Haynes and Dr. Thomas Raetzsch.
Private interment will be held later at the Matthies Family Cemetery near Seguin.
Throughout her career in health care, Betty Ann's basic rule of thumb was to always do what is the best for the patient and the rest will follow. That held true in her leadership positions with the City and in her commitment to always do what was best for the citizens of Seguin. In all of her many roles, including that of mother and friend, she always encouraged those near her to pursue their education, advance their career and make the most of their life. Among the many bits of sage advice she often shared was that one only regrets what they don't do. Betty Ann's commitment and service to her beloved hospital and community of Seguin will never be forgotten as she leaves an inspiring and positive legacy for the thousands of lives she has influenced.
The family would like to thank Guadalupe Regional Hospice Services and Charlotte's Cove Staff for their loving care of Betty Ann.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Betty Ann Matthies (BAM) Scholarship Fund for all GRMC employees to advance their education and careers, c/o Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, 1215 E. Court Street, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or you may visit the link https://grmedfdn.ejoinme.org/donatenow.