Florence Matz

Funeral services for Florence “Tootie” Matz, age 92 of Hayward will be held on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church.  Pastor Clayton Balsley will officiate.  Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 4, 2014 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.  

Florence died on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014 at The Mayo Clinic Health System, Albert Lea.

Florence was born on September 1, 1922 in Albert Lea, the daughter of Delos and Grace (Lundberg) Cornick. She grew up in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School. She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church. On July 25, 1942, Tootie was united in marriage to Edwin S. Matz in Flint, MI. She was one of the original members of the Albert Lea Farmer’s Market . She was a baker and had a large following for her baked goods; especially her famous sweet rolls. During her lifetime she had many jobs, starting as a “Rosie the Riveter” in airplane factories during WWII. The couple started farming in the Conger area and then moved to a farm north of Hayward where they farmed for 50 yrs.  She was a baker at the Standard Truck Stop. They were involved with VOCA and volunteered for overseas assistance helping locals improve farming practices in Romania and Czechoslovakia. Tootie enjoyed gardening especially having her grandchildren involved, baking, quilting, crocheting, playing cards, coin collecting and especially spending time with her family.

Survivors include her children Sharon (Jerry) Selph of Lake Dallas, TX, Patty (Mike) Billat of Albert Lea, Lori (Dale) Overland of Albert Lea, DeEtta (Paul) Marka of Albert Lea, and Daniel (Kelly) Matz of Hayward; foster son Tom Jorgenson; grandchildren Brian (Holly) High, Andy Selph, DeAnn (Chris) Behncke, Chad Billat, Ben Billat, Scott (Jenny) Overland, Stacy (James) Tautges, Jon (Jenna) Overland, Joshua (Sara) Stieler, Amy Marka and fiancé Grant Neitzell, Casey Marka, Taylor Matz, and Garrett Matz; great-grandchildren Logan High, Lawson High, Jaxon Selph, Kennedy Behncke, Kameron Behncke, Owen Tautges, Brenden Overland, Kailey Overland, Brody Overland, Emmitt Stevens, Kylee Stevens, Sam Stieler, and Ally Stieler; brothers Roger (Donna) Cornick and Daryl (Helen ) Cornick; and several nieces and nephews.

Tootie was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Matz, her parents, and her siblings Chuck Cornick, Dorothy Hemingway, Marcelle Bruley, James Cornick and Carroll Cornick.