Thomas Matocha

Thomas Adolph Matocha, 62, passed away after a long battle with cancer on January 17, 2022.

Thomas was born in La Grange on May 18, 1959 to Adolph and Helen (Barina) Matocha Jr.  He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and then graduated from La Grange High School.  He then earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.  Following college, Thomas began his basketball coaching and teaching career that took him to several Central Texas High Schools.  Teaching the sciences and coaching his favorite sport enabled Thomas to touch many people throughout his career while doing what he loved.  While teaching in Austin, he met his wife Lucy (Espitia).  They married August 31, 2003 in Austin and resided in Bastrop for over ten years.

In his over 30-year career as a teacher and coach, Thomas was admired by many and was known for his ability to make learning fun.  Along with inspiring an infinite number of students and players, he also enjoyed umpiring, reading and collecting vintage corvettes. Thomas loved animals and had many pets, including peacocks and pheasants along with four bloodhounds.  Thomas loved ranching and enjoyed tending to his cattle on his ranches in Fayette County (West Point) and surrounding counties. Thomas enjoyed people and animals, was everyone’s friend and always had a joke for every occasion to make you laugh.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife, Lucy; three brothers, Garry Matocha and wife Patti, Greg Matocha and wife Julia, Keith Matocha and wife Cindy; one sister, Jennifer Gillie and husband Billy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Helen Matocha Jr.

Visitation for Thomas Matocha will be held on Monday, January 24, 2022 from 12 PM-6 PM at Fayette Memorial Funeral Home in La Grange, with family receiving guests from 4-6 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 1:00 PM, January 25th at the Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, with interment to follow at the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Austin Wildlife Rescue (https://www.austinwildliferescue.org/about) or Emancipet (https://www.emancipet.org).