Cleta Allyne Mattiza Garms
Cleta Allyne Mattiza Garms passed away on Saturday, August 10th, 2024. She was born on August 27, 1933, in Crawford, Texas to the late Herbert and Earlene Mattiza.
She graduated from Brownwood High School in 1950. In 1954 she received her Bachelor of Science degree from Howard Payne University and a Master of Education in 1969. She was homecoming queen at HPU in 1953.
She met and later married her college sweetheart, Harold Garms on May 29, 1954.
Cleta started her teaching career in 1954 and spent her teaching years in Gustine, Brownwood, Midland and Andrews, where she and Harold retired from in 1987, after 32 years.
She touched many lives during her teaching career and equally touched lives after her career ended. She always had a lesson to teach, had wisdom to give and had compliments a plenty. She was super funny and witty, which can be witnessed by searching “My 84-year-old mom having the time of her life,” which went viral right after we posted it on Facebook! 1,000 hits a minute!
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold (Jan. 8, 2005), and her sister Dolores (Dada) Thomas.
Cleta was a member of Means Memorial Methodist Church, Pink Ladies Auxiliary, Andrews Retired Teachers, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Life member of TSTA and NEA.
Cleta is survived by her daughter, Staci Clemmer and wife Kari of Murphy, Texas. A granddaughter, Kellye Clemmer and great-grandson, Kruz Casarez of Lubbock, Texas. She is also survived by three Nieces, Vickie Walker (Ronnie) of Georgetown, Texas, Teri Simpson (Charlie) and Toni Orbison (Charlie), both from Lindale, Texas.
A visitation will be held from 5:00PM-8:00PM, Friday, August 16, 2024, at McNett Funeral Home. A Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the McNett Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Rick Doyle and Pastor Kalyn Brassfield officiating, burial will follow at the Andrews County West Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the VNA (Visiting Nurses Association), 7290 Virginia Parkway Suite 2300 McKinney, Texas 75071, in memory of Cleta Garms and in honor of nurse Kacy Thomas.
Arrangements are under the personal care of McNett Funeral Home.
