Isabel "Chavelo" Matamoros

Isabel Matamoros, known by many as 'Chavelo' or 'Matt', passed away Friday, September 20, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Funeral services will be held at 9 am Friday, September 27, 2024, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Temple. Burial will follow at North Belton Cemetery.

Isabel was born November 18, 1938, to Pedro Matamoros and Bonifacia Hernandez in McAllen. He married Mary Vriseno on March 29, 1959. Isabel served in the U.S. Army and continued his service as a civil servant at Fort Hood for over 25 years. After his first retirement, Isabel followed his passion for painting with Belton Independent School District and is affectionately remembered as the "Tiger Painter". Isabel devoted his artistic talents to his church for decades with murals, sculptures, portraits, and even a replica of the original Our Lady of Guadalupe structure. In 2022, he was recognized by the community he loved with the Hispanic Legacy Trailblazer Hero Award.

Those left to honor and cherish his memory are his children, Sylvia Garza, Olivia and Mitchell Taylor, Lydia and Julio Aleman, and Joe Louis and Christa Matamoros; two brothers; 24 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; and 4 great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-8 pm with a Holy Rosary recited at 7 pm, Thursday, September 26, 2024, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple.