Tula Mae Matz went home to be with the Lord on December 8, 2023, at the age of 87. Preceded in death by her father, William Clark Tadlock, and mother, Mittie Mae (Conner) Tadlock; four brothers, Royce, Grady, Bobby, and Paul Tadlock; and sister, Wila Jean Daniels.
She is also preceded by stepdaughter Nancy Anderson and two great-grandsons, Brenden Michael Pipes, and Jacob Colby Williams.
She is survived by her husband Gene Matz, daughter Darlene Gergulis (Ken) and sister Juanita Peterson; stepchildren Erna Van Raden, Jeannie (Mort) Gould, Larry Matz, Tina Hogue, Gary Matz and 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
She was a member and baptized at Palm River Baptist Church, where she faithfully served in the clothes closet and food pantry for over 20 years.
When not attending church, she would stay busy baking strawberry cakes, apple cakes, and banana nut bread for her family and friends. It was the best! She loved to crochet and kept her family supplied with pot holders and "scrubbies", which we all loved. An avid Bucs fan, you did not dare stand in front of the TV when a game was on! Playing card games with her family was a favorite pastime. She could play for hours and really enjoyed beating the men. She had a soft spot in her heart for all animals, especially her cat, Sheba. Her greatest passion was her love for the Lord and her family. She loved her family deeply and often spoke of how proud she was of all of them. She will always be in the hearts of those who loved her.