Our loss was Heaven’s gain as E. Tyson “Ty” Matlack, III, 71, of Clermont, entered the presence of our Lord on July 27, 2023, after a diagnosis on July 20, 2023, by the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, a rare and very aggressive cancer. He handled his shocking diagnosis and brief battle with an unbeatable cancer with courage and grace and used his precious time visiting with all his family who traveled to be with him. Ty leaned heavily on his faith. He and Sandy could feel the Lord’s presence and comfort throughout this short and tragic journey. Ty’s request was to return to Clermont for hospice care. He was transported from Jacksonville in his swim trunks and sunglasses, his outfit of choice!
Born on September 4, 1951, in Red Bank, NJ he spent his boyhood years in West Nyack, NY, his summers in Cape May, NJ as a beach lifeguard and learned his love of lobster as a busboy at The Lobster House. At age 17, Ty moved to Lakeland, FL to attend Florida Southern College where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture, with a minor in Citrus.
Ty’s work life was devoted to horticulture, which led to him owning Matlack Garden Center where he met his loving wife, Sandy, through an introduction orchestrated by his sister and her mother. Ty imported Sandy from Indiana, marrying in 1993. In 1999 he started Matlack Tree Farm in Clermont, FL which is still ongoing. Ty’s work ethic and knowledge was unsurpassed and respected in the industry, by his colleagues, staff, and anyone who knew him.
Ten years ago, Ty and Sandy bought the cottage in East Boothbay, Maine where they summered to escape Florida’s unforgiving heat. Maine was always a beacon of light to Ty to persevere in anticipation of wonderful hiking, fishing, boating, birding, reading –lobster! – throwing rocks from the deck at chipmunks raiding his birdfeeders (he always missed!), enjoying close friendships, and sliding into retirement.
Ty also had a great love of sailing, sunsets, dogs, biking, skiing every winter out West with his family, his time on the Appalachian Trail, and almost anything that included being outdoors, whether alone or with family and friends anywhere!
His infectious laughter and boyish playfulness will be missed by all those who knew him well. The youngest generation will miss his “kid at heart” joy. With his busy life of family, career and community, Ty taught us how to live…with his cancer journey, he taught us how to die.
Surviving is his loving wife of 30 years Sandra Lee Matlack, stepchildren Drew Dolick (IN), Danielle and her husband Spencer Moran (CO), brother Bruce Matlack (FL), sister Susan and her husband Wayne Elmore (SC), grandchildren Keaton and Colin (IN), Alexandria and Kian (CO), cousins, numerous nieces and grandnieces, nephew and grandnephew, his church family and many close TKE brothers.
Preceding Ty in death are E. Tyson Matlack, Jr. (father), Margaret Logan Matlack (mother), Linda Matlack Rieber (sister). Also, his beloved in-law parents, Don M. Chamberlain, (father-in-law) and Rosemary Chamberlain (mother-in-law) who lived with Ty and Sandy since 2008.
Service will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Open Door Baptist Church in Clermont.
Visitation: 10:00 am. Memorial Service: 11:00 am
The service will also be live-streamed at:
https://odbconline.org/media/live-streaming/
After 24 hours, it will be archived on the website.
In lieu of flowers, Ty requested donations to Boothbay Land Trust where Ty enjoyed many, many hikes.
https://bbrlt.org/support/become-a-member/
