Elizabeth Lee Matern

Elizabeth Lee Matern ~ 1956-2025  

Our beautiful and deeply loved mother, Elizabeth “Liz” Lee Matern, passed away on February 3, 2025, at the age of  68. She was born May 27, 1956, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Leo Lamond and Grace (Thomas) Lee. She married Bruce Leonard Barker on April 6, 1973, and they divorced in 1977. Her second marriage was to Lonnie Christopher Tew on May 19, 1981. They later divorced. Her final marriage was with Bryan Matern in 2003. Bryan was a dear friend and companion to her until he died in 2018. 

Liz raised three children with strength and fortitude from the time she was 16 years old while working at Harmons Grocery. She started her 50 years of loyalty with Harmons in 1972, working many positions, and retired in the Harmons corporate office in West Valley in 2022. 

She was a beloved and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister. Her children and family meant everything to her. She enjoyed camping, doing ceramics, going to the movies, barbeques, and spending time with the family. One of her favorite songs was “Colour My World.” She loved the holidays, especially Halloween. She never missed an opportunity to dress up. She was also a lover of coffee and passed that love on to her children and grandchildren. 

Liz is survived by her children, Joseph “Joe” (Jo) Barker, Korean “Korie”(Levi) Sexton, and Stacy (Brook) Hardee; 8 grandchildren, Alexis Darling, Taylor Darling, Whitney Barker, Chesney Barker, Hunter Sexton, Gracie Sexton, Benjamin De la Cruz, Keaton Hardee; 4 great grandchildren, Miyah, Kohen, Nolan, Elijah; siblings, Richard T. (Carrie) Lee, Lorraine (Michael) Bourne, Ada Christine (Eric) Torson, Rebecca Wells, Loal T. (Diana) Lee; sister-in-law, Marguerite Lee; brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Fay Weight. 

Preceded in death by previous spouses, Bryan Matern, Lonnie Christopher Tew, and Bruce Leonard Barker; her parents, Leo Lamond and Grace (Thomas) Lee, and siblings: Wayne T. Lee, Kathryn Lee Weight, David T. Lee.  

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for just a little while, and their hearts forever”.  

At the request of Liz, there will be no funeral services. A celebration of life will be held at a future date at Yellow Pine Campground in the Uintahs where Liz and Bryan enjoyed their time camping and fishing together.