Jason W. Matson

JASON OBITUARY

JASON WADE MATSON, AGE 43, PASSED AWAY ON FRIDAY JUNE 30, 2023, AT ST. DAVID HOSPITAL IN AUSTIN, TX.  HE WAS BORN JULY 8, 1979, IN WASCO, CALIFORNIA, TO KAREN MELINDA CHERRY (MATSON).  HE WAS A 1997 GRADUATE OF NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.  JASON CONTINUED HIS EDUCATION, EARNING A BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S DEGREE FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD. JASON WAS EMPLOYED BY THE BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROXIMATLY 19 ½ YEARS.  HE EVENTUALLY MEDICALLY RETIRED AT THE RANK OF CAPTAIN.  DURING HIS YEARS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HE WORKED NUMEROUS ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING K9, NARCOTICS, SEX CRIMES, SUPERVISED THE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT, HONOR GUARD, AND FEDERAL TASK FORCE UNITS.  JASON ALSO RECEIVED MANY COMMENDATIONS, PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS K9 TRIALS, ATTENDED COMMAND COLLEGE, AND WAS A MENTOR. HE VOLUNTEERED FOR EVENTS SUCH AS, BATTLE OF THE BADGES, CARS AND KIDS, AND THE ANNUAL BPD K9 TRIALS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL KIWANIS. JASON WAS ALSO A PART-TIME ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD, TEACHING IN THE GRADUATE AND UNDER-GRADUATE PROGRAM.  IN 2022, HE DECIDED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN HIS LIFE JOURNEY AND MOVED TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.  JASON BECAME A PART OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FAMILY, ACCEPTING A CIVILIAN POSITION AS A RESEARCH AND PLANNING MANAGER.  HE MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON HIS FELLOW CO-WORKERS AND COMMAND STAFF.  HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AND TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO THRIVE TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.  OUTSIDE OF WORK, JASON LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST, HE LOVED TO TRAVEL OR JUST TAKE A DAY ROADTRIP.  HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT COFFEE SHOP HANGOUT. HE ALSO HAD A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY HIS FOUR DOGS. HE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY GRANDPARENTS ARDEN “MATT” MATSON AND MARY MATSON, GRANDPARENTS BRUCE AND VELTA CHERRY AND MANY OTHER BELOVED FAMILY MEMBERS. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 19 YEARS, SANDRA, DAUGHTERS MACKYNZIE MATSON AND MORGAN (KYLE) HOLMES, BROTHER TRAVIS (SARAH) CHERRY, SISTER AMBER (DREW) TORRIS, STEP-FATHER DONALD CHERRY AND MOTHER KAREN MELINDA CHERRY, AND MANY NIECES, NEPHEWS, AND COUSINS.

THE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH, 4800 FRUITVALE AVE, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93308, FRIDAY JULY 28, 2023, AT 1000 AM.  A RECEPTION WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW AT THE CHURCH, LUNCH AND SOME OF JASON’S FAVORITE FOODS WILL BE SERVED.  GRAVESIDE SERVICE WILL FOLLOW THE RECEPTION AT GREENLAWN SOUTHWEST, 2739 PANAMA LN, BAKERSFIELD, CA  93313.

MEMORIAL DONATIONS IN LIEU OF FLOWERS MAY BE MADE TO:

-ST. JUDE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL

-MARLEY’S MUTTS (MARLEYSMUTTS.ORG)

-FRIENDS OF ABANDONED DOGS (FORMALLY KNOWN AS R.A.D) ON FACEBOOK LOCATED IN KERN COUNTY