Harlingen - Guy (Guido) Mattei, 72, died January 5 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center hospice of bone marrow failure with his wife at his side.

Born October 14, 1949, in New York, New York, Guy was the third of eight children of Guido and Mary Mattei. He graduated from Deer Park High School, and in 1971 graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Fisheries Biology. He married Eileen Couture on June 19, 1971, and they began Peace Corps Volunteer training 6 weeks later. He and his wife lived in Babungo, Ndop, Cameroon working in aquaculture until 1974. They then traveled on a BMW motorcycle across Europe for 4 months.

Guy managed fish farms in California and Tamaulipas, Mexico, along with owning and operating Sulphur Fish Hatchery in Oklahoma for 10 years. He served as an AID aquaculture consultant in Belarus and Egypt. In 1993 he settled in Harlingen.

Guy was a fish farmer, blacksmith-artist, sculptor, woodworker, musician, avid cyclist, problem solver, beloved husband and brother, and much more. He designed and built equipment for maquiladoras and shrimp farms. He designed and crafted the chandelier and sconces in the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium. He completed public art commissions in McAllen and for TSC in Brownsville. He played bass clarinet in the Rio Grande Concert Band. Always open to adventures and challenges, Guy made time to bicycle as much as 7,000 miles a year, twice.

Guy's survivors include his wife, Eileen; six siblings, Anna Mattei, Isa Mattei, Karina Mattei, Mary Mattei, Laura Mattei and Robert Mattei (Lisa). Also, his father-in-law, Albert Couture; and in-laws, Richard Couture (Deborah), Ann Walton (Allan), Diane Dawley (Mark), Margaret Couture, Kevin Couture (Margaret), Michael Couture (Tammy); and 17 nieces and nephews.

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Published by Valley Morning Star on Feb. 25, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Guy Mattei

Sponsored by Miller Funeral Services - Houston.

7 Entries

albert richard couture

February 19, 2023

Guy, a son-in-law everyone wishes for and we were so fortunate to be one of them. It was a pleasure to see his happy approach and expression to life in his devotion to our daughter and his life works.

Keith Peterson

March 4, 2022

Sometimes when I reflect on life I look back at the "what if´s". Perhaps the most life-changing is "What if I had never met Guy and Eileen?" There are few people who have had a greater impact on my life than Guy and Eileen Mattei.
I was at a crossroads. It was 1983 and my friends at the University of Virginia were preparing to be engineers, lawyers, and doctors. I had an interview with the Peace Corps, but it didn´t go well. I found myself sitting in a bar with my friend Maggie bemoaning my poor performance and wondering what the future would hold after graduation. Maggie told me her sister and brother-in-law had been Peace Corps Volunteers in Cameroon and now owned a fish farm in Oklahoma. A quick telephone interview set my life on its path for the next 39 years.
While my friends prepared for grad school, I jumped in my Chevy Nova and headed for Sulfur. And I worked hard. We worked 12-hour days, 7 days a week. Guy finally told me to take a day off and spend the day in town or out at the local lake. (Maybe they just wanted a little alone time!) When I tell people of the things we did on that farm (especially my doctor and lawyer friends) they are slack-jaw. Guy and I once pulled over 800 pounds of bloated, dead catfish from a pond...by hand. When the water pump clogged, Guy and I climbed down into the sump and cleared out the muck and dead animals so the water would flow. I learned to sex catfish and impregnate grass carp. Guy literally taught me how to dig ditches. That summer taught me I was tough. I could do anything.
The day came near the end of the summer when I received the letter from Peace Corps informing me that I was a "low priority". I was not going into the Peace Corps. Guy immediately got on the phone with the Peace Corps Fisheries Director and berated him; he was crazy not to accept me! I understood later that they had been Volunteers together in Cameroon and were quite good friends. I had my acceptance letter the next week.
My life changed as a result of my Peace Corps experience, and it never would have happened without Guy and Eileen. They taught me to work hard, to live in the moment, to understand what it means to succeed, to be happy. The love I saw between them is the example I try to emulate in my own marriage. I owe them so much that can never be repaid.

Keith Peterson

Margaret (Maggie) Couture

March 4, 2022

Guy was a brilliant and creative man. More important he was a loving husband and friend who will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed.

Sidney Beckwith

March 1, 2022

One fascinating fellow.My condolences to the family.

John & Darlene Topp

February 28, 2022

Eileen, you have our deepest sympathy. Guy lived life to the fullest, fought a tough battle (never to give up) and now has his reward! Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Al Couture

February 25, 2022

This was a gifted young man. Always ready to challenge tasks and able to present outstanding results. Although presenting himself as a gruff outspoken individual, he had the heart of an artist and poet. Always amazed at the beautiful metal and woodwork he produced. I'm sure he will find a way to beautify the gates of heaven.

Forrest Garling, Harlingen TX

February 25, 2022

I will always remember the beautiful metal sculpture and other decorative pieces you created,
never forgetting your talent. You and Eileen have meant so much to me.

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