William Ellis “Bill” Matyastik passed from this life on January 23, 2018. Visitation will be at Oakcrest Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday January 26, 2018. Services will be at First Baptist Church, Waco, at 10:00 AM on Saturday January 27, 2018. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Bill was born on April 27, 1932, the eldest of seven children, to parents William Paul and Rose Antonia Matyastik. He graduated from Yoe High School in Cameron, Texas in 1950. He served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. After separation from the Army, he worked in his father’s cotton gin and farm implement business in which he had grown up. His experience as young son in that business developed a strong work ethic which he applied in every endeavor of life.

A series of potentially disastrous accidents prompted him to pursue an education for a different line of work. He graduated from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting. He accepted a position as an Internal Revenue agent (field auditor) with the U.S. Treasury, which he held until 1969, and was assigned four years in El Paso and five years in Waco. In August 1969 he began his private practice of tax preparation and representation of taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, in which he was actively engaged until recent years when Alzheimer’s disease forced his retirement. The family business of Matyastik Tax Service continues to serve its clients today.

Bill married Maggie Marie Schulz in Burlington, Texas, on August 25, 1953. They have resided in Waco since 1964 and have been members of First Baptist Church Waco for fifty-three years. Bill was ordained a deacon in that church in November 1966.

He was an endowed member of Waco Masonic Lodge #92, John Armstrong Lodge #291, Tranquility Lodge #2000, Waco York Rite Bodies, and Waco Scottish Rite Bodies. He served John Armstrong Lodge as Worshipful Master and each of the Waco Rite Bodies as presiding officer. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron 2001-2002.

Bill was Grand Treasurer for the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas and the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters for seven years. On April 21, 2008 he was installed as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas. He presided over the 156th Conclave of Grand Commandery when it met in Waco April of 2009, after which he was designated by Grand Encampment Kinghts Templar of the U.S.A. as Knight Commander of the Temple.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, daughters Margie Matyastik-Barton and Nita Parsons, brothers Jim Matyastik and Bob Matyastik, and granddaughter Ashlee Marie Spann. He is survived by his wife Maggie; sons Bill Matyastik and Walter Matyastik; daughters Dr. Margaret Baier, Linda Hutchings, and Dr. Melissa Spann; brother Paul Matyastik; sisters Rose Snider, Ruth Woollett, and Jane Vorwerk; nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation: http://www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/info/donations.pdf

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