Mathew Pierce McConnell, age 59 of Richland Springs, Texas passed away at his residence on Friday, November 5, 2021, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Mat was born on July 8, 1962, in Pasadena, California to the late Fredric and Colleen (Pierce) McConnell. Mat was a U.S. veteran who proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He had top security clearance working in U.S. intelligence and earned a Navy Expeditionary Medal with a Bronze Star and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
After his service in the Navy, he earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Philosophy from the University of Houston and a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman’s University. He was the long-time Director of the Brownwood Public Library where he taught computer classes to the public and was instrumental in securing a permanent home for the Brownwood History and Genealogy Library by acquiring the building on the square where the History and Genealogy Library is currently located.
Mat was an avid reader and often recommended books for his friends. He was also a brilliant debater and spent many hours discussing politics, philosophy, and religion with his friends across the country. A devoted Patriot, he wrote hundreds of blogs and opinion pieces for many online publications and websites in an effort to encourage Americans to take a closer interest and to become more engaged in local and national government.
After retirement from the library, he enjoyed raising cattle on his San Saba County ranch, having lunch in Brownwood with his closest friends, taking long walks on the ranch with his wife, and teaching his loyal Border Collie, Rebel, how to memorize and fetch 150+ named toys.
Mat was preceded in death by his parents, Fredric and Colleen (Pierce) McConnell; brother, Joseph McConnell; maternal grandparents, O.B. and Ada Pierce; and paternal grandparents, Floyd and Mary McConnell.
Mat is survived by his wife, Lynn Hanson McConnell; sisters, Monica Hurley and husband Paul, and Molly Parrish and husband Dave all of Seabrook; brother, Floyd McConnell of Houston; special uncle and aunt, Ron and Mary Pierce of San Saba; nephews, Joshua and Samuel Hurley and Benjamin, Noah, and Owen Parrish of Seabrook and Camdyn Hanson of Cordele, Georgia; nieces, Olivia Hurley of Houston, Stephanie McConnell Kiner and husband Chase of New York City, New York, Lindsey Boney and husband Jonathan, Katelyn Barton of Abbeville, Georgia, and Rylee Hanson of Cordele, Georgia; mother-in-law, Betty Hanson of Abbeville, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Evarist McConnell of Houston and Jo Hanson Barton of Abbeville, Georgia; brother-in-law, Tony Hanson and wife Kim of Cordele, Georgia; and his beloved Border Collie, Rebel.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 22, 2021, in the chapel of the Blaylock Funeral Home of San Saba (143 Nixon Lane, San Saba, Texas).
Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of San Saba.
Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.