Brigette Dianne "Bee" Matson

1977 - 2024

Brigette "Bee" Dianne Matson, 47, of Brookville, PA, passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, while a patient at Alleghany General Hospital, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Brigette was born on May 25, 1977, to Molly (Barr) and the late Clarence "Woody" Main, in DuBois, PA.

Brigette graduated from the Brookville Area School District with the Class of 1995. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Clarion University in 1999. She then continued her education at Clarion University and achieved her Master's Degree in Speech Pathology in 2001. She also held her Principal Certificate, which she received from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Special Education Supervisory Certificate from Penn State University. In 2018, Brigette completed her Doctorate in Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

She worked as the Executive Director at ARIN Intermediate Unit 28. She was the Assistant Superintendent of the Brookville Area School District and then the Assistant Superintendent of the DuBois Area School District. She was passionate about Educational Leadership.

Brigette married the love of her life, Robert "Rob" Matson, on February 22, 2003, in Brookville; Rob survives her.

She was a member of the Brookville Presbyterian Church where she was ordained as an Elder. She loved serving in her church and serving others, including a mission trip to Rwanda. She previously served on the Brookville YMCA Board of Directors. She was also a member of various professional organizations.

Brigette was an avid runner, even throughout her cancer treatments. She was known for her passion for running, and was seen daily out enjoying her runs, no matter the weather. In 2011, she ran the Boston Marathon achieving a 7 minute and 40 seconds per mile pace. This qualified her to run it again in 2012, which she did. She summited numerous peaks over 14,000 feet, including Mt. Rainier and Mt. Shasta. Brigette enjoyed the outdoors including hunting, hiking, bike riding, swimming, and skiing; both cross country and downhill.

Brigette and her husband, Rob, have been passionate about raising and training field trial dogs. Their dog, Kami, stole her heart and turned her from being a "cat person", to a "dog person". She touched many lives during her life and will be dearly missed by all that knew her.

In addition to her mother and husband, Brigette is survived by her aunts and uncles: Shari Mortimer, Helen (John) Straitiff, and John (Cathy) Barr. Brigette was also loved and survived by her in-laws: Dave and Diana Smail; sister-in-law: Molly (Doug) Zimmerman, and their children, Ella and Jackson; and brother-in-law: Jack (Meggan) Matson, and their children, Grace and Charlotte. She is also survived by many cousins.

In addition to her father, Brigette was preceded in passing by her sister: Michelle Main; paternal grandparents: William "Bud" and Edna Main; and maternal grandparents: Jack and Normagene Barr.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the McKinney – d'Argy Funeral Home, 345 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825. A third viewing will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2024, also at the funeral home, from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Following the third viewing, there will be a service held at The Brookville Presbyterian Church, 100 White Street, Brookville, PA 15825, beginning at 11:00 a.m. and officiated by Pastor Stanley Bhasker.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to The Brookville Presbyterian Church, or to the Brookville YMCA, 125 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825. Brigette's life was prolonged through the blessing of receiving blood that had been donated. In her honor, her family asks that anyone who is willing and able, donate blood to the American Red Cross. There is a blood drive scheduled at the Brookville Evangelical Methodist Church, 30 White Street, Brookville PA, 15825, on September 13, 2024. Interment will take place on Saturday, at 3:30 pm, at Brookville Cemetery, Brookville, Jefferson Co., PA.

Online condolences and other information may be found by visiting www.dargyfh.com