Eva Mae O'Bryant

Eva Mae White Matheny O'Bryant entered eternal rest Friday, May 2, 2025.

A graveside service will be held on May 10, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Sabinal Cemetery.    

She was born on January 6, 1927 to Yorcie Homer White and Lenna Felts White on the family farm near Sabinal. She had two siblings, Barbara Matheny and Homer White. Eva graduated from Sabinal High School in 1944, along with her sister, Barbara, and her future husband, Lee.

Eva married Arthur Lee Matheny on September 26, 1945 and they lived on their own farm near his parents and brother's family until his death from cancer in 1963. They brought four children into the world, Jimmy Lee, Laura Ann, Jerry Wayne, and Jeanne LuEllen. After Lee's death, Eva raised the children on her own. During that time Jimmy developed cancer and passed away in 1969.

Eva worked at Western Auto (later True Value) as a clerk and then as a teacher's aide at the Sabinal Elementary helping children learn to read and sharpen math skills. Not afraid to work to support her family, she also worked to keep the church building clean for the Sabinal Church of Christ, where she was a faithful member. She taught children's Bible classes well into her 80's.

She is remembered for many acts of kindness (buying school supplies for children, consoling grieving families, preparing meals for sick/grieving, Christmas gifts for shut-ins of her delicious candies) She loved gardening. Her yard boasted lovely flowers, and she usually had something edible growing. She maintained her yard/garden until she was 90. She mowed her yard with a push mower (non-self-propelled) Eva was an excellent cook. Her pies were second to none.

She lived in Sabinal for 90 years and then moved to San Antonio to an independent living facility where she lived near her sister, Barbara for 6 years. The past two years she lived first with her daughter, Jeanne(Brent) and then finally moved to an assisted living facility where she lived out her last days in a country setting on 10 acres with wildlife passing through the yard.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brother (Homer), husband (Lee), son (Jimmy) and daughter-in-law, Norma Farr Matheny. She is survived by her sister, Barbara, children, Laura Ford (Allen), Jerry Matheny, Jeanne Peterson (Brent), grandchildren; Brittany DeVos (James), Katie Shotts (Aaron), Heather Thompson, Ian Thompson, and Blythe Smith (Cale). She had 8 great-grandchildren: Eleanor Smith, Millie Smith, Clark Smith, Linus DeVos,August DeVos, Evangeline Shotts, Alaina Shotts, and Kalliope Shotts.