William T. "Bill" Matlock

Bill was born and raised in Long Beach, Calif., and settled in Colorado after completing his university training an teaching high school for several years in Nebraska and California. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Colorado State University and later a masters in counseling. He was a high-school and middle-school counselor for 22 years and a resident of the rural brighton/Fort Lupton area for 38 years.
Bill's greatest passion was goose and duck hunting, with dove, pheasant, deer and elk hunting in a close second. Vacations and social plans were scheduled around opening days of the various seasons. During the offseason and in his younger days, Bill enjoyed hiking, fishing and (very) amateur volleyball.
Bill had the satisfaction of converting several large plots of acreage into habitat sanctuaries for wildlife by planting tree rows, plum thickets and native Colorado grasses. It was with great pride and pleasure that he had pheasant, duck and goose hunting properties and experiences to share with his hunter/gatherer friends.
Survivors include his parnter of 33 years, Randy Beineke, of Fort Lupton; his sister, Margie (Jon) Masterson, of Long Beach; his brother, Dick (Jo), of Colorado Springs; five nieces, Laura, Jennifer, Karen, Wendy and Mary, whom he adored; seven great-nieces and nephews, to whom he was devoted; Randy's family; and many friends, neighbors and hunting buddies.
Besides his extraordinarily wide range of close friends, Bill always considered the two exhange students he and Randy hosted – Stine, from Norway, a junior at the University of Colorado, and Mattheus, from Brazil, who is completing a work program at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. – as family.
We will all miss Bill's brilliant blue eyes and constant smile.
His parents, Richard and Beverly; and his brother, Bob, preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to a charity. Some of Bill's favorites were the Colorado Chapters of Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy, Project Angel heart (delivering meals to those along the Front Range coping with life-threatening diseases), Point Foundation (LBGTQ scholarships) and The Center (serving Denver area LGBTQ youth).
A celebration of Bill's life will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, at The Amory, 300 Strong St., Brighton.