Edward Emori "Bud" Matney

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Edward E. "Bud" Matney Sr., 88, of South Sioux City, founder of the three Matney Nursing Homes in Sioux City and South Sioux City with his wife, Lillie, passed away Monday, June 1, 2009, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Morningside Assembly of God Church, with the Rev. Johnny Helton officiating. Burial will be in Omaha Valley Cemetery, Homer, Neb. Visitation will be 3:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Online tributes may be sent to www.christysmith.com .

Ed was born Sept. 15, 1920, in Jackson, Neb., to Harley and Rosa (Gunsolley) Matney. He was raised and went to school in Jackson.

Ed married Lillie Hiserote, the daughter of Millard and Violet (Moss) Hiserote in South Sioux City on Aug. 9, 1940. They made South Sioux City their home all their lives. The couple attended and supported the Assembly of God churches in the Siouxland area.

A child of the Great Depression, Ed left school at the age of 16 in order to help support his family. Due to the circumstances of the time and with little work available, he lived in a cave for two years near Jackson, Neb., where he cut wood and made fence posts, which he sold for 10 cents each, in order to support his family. Less than a month ago, the family located this cave and remnants of the articles and the stove he used during the time he lived there.

In his early 20s, Ed served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. He was stationed in the Philippines during the Pacific Campaign. Upon his return from military service, Ed worked for more than 20 years at Swift and Company and Dressed Beef in Sioux City. He was one of the survivors of the deadly explosion that took place at Swift and Company in December of 1949. Despite working long hours at meat packing plants, Ed also built houses, invested in real estate and launched numerous business ventures.

In the 1960s, Ed and his wife, Lillie helped pioneer long-term care in Siouxland. Beginning in 1964, the couple owned and operated small facilities in Sioux City. In the 1970s, they built three new facilities, two in Sioux City and one in South Sioux City, which made them the largest long-term care providers in Siouxland. Ed remained active in the business until it was sold in 1998.

Ed was an avid football fan and closely followed the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the South Sioux City Cardinals. In keeping with his entrepreneurial spirit, he loved going to auctions and dealing on cars. He loved to make bean soup and cornbread for the whole family. In later years, he particularly loved to read from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. Although not raised in the Catholic church, he attended Catholic school in Jackson, Neb., and was proud of his strong connection to the people of Jackson.

Ed is survived by five children, Caroline Matney of South Sioux City, Irene and her husband, John Buck of South Sioux City, Joy and her husband, Danny Morten of Kaufman, Texas, Edward H. Matney Jr. and his wife, Lisa of Sioux City, and Janet and her husband, Jerry Comeau of South Sioux City. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Noriene and Jim Murphy, Dawn Bobier, Jon and Angela Buck, Joy and Kevin Rasmussen, Todd and Kelly Morten, Jeff and Susan Morten, Gina and Greg Melton, Edward H. Matney III, Melanie Fowler, Amy Matney, Nick Matney, Elizabeth Lucken and Luke and Machelle Comeau. He also had 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Harley and Vergean Matney.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie; his parents; a brother, Orville Matney; three sisters, Bonnie Hankins, Georgetta Border and Peggy Pedersen; a daughter-in-law, Nicola Matney; and a granddaughter, Darci Morten.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Jon Buck, Todd Morten, Edward Matney III, Jeff Morten, Luke Comeau and Nick Matney.