John DeMatos – husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend — passed away naturally at his home in Arcata on Saturday December 6, 2025. He was 88 and surrounded by loved ones.

John was born in 1937 in the small village of Carvalhal, Portugal. His family moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when he was a teenager. He met the love of his life, Maria Jose Lourenco, who he married, in 1963 and later welcomed twoDan Adams’s children. In 1968 Maria Jose’s family helped them to immigrate to the United States and soon after welcomed a daughter in 1970. Maria Jose passed away in 1982 and John remarried and found happiness again with Ana Noia in 1989.

John was a dedicated, loyal, kind and intelligent man. He went to school in Brazil and graduated with an accounting degree. He was a hardworking, capable father who always provided for his family. While he lived in Brazil, he had many passions and worked as a shoemaker, butcher and accountant. In the U.S. he worked and retired from Louisiana Pacific after 33 years of hard work. He often told us that he came to America with only $600, got a job and bought a home.

He loved to travel and made many trips back to his homeland in Brazil to visit his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. He enjoyed puzzles, trivia and gardening and canning large batches of tuna. He loved going on walks and in his later years he would even use his walker and walk a mile up to his favorite bakery. Some of his famous words to us in the end was “ I Do it Myself”

His late wife, Maria Jose, was blessed with a large family “11 brothers and sisters” and they all considered him to be like a brother even to this day. He always enjoyed big family get-togethers, eating delicious homemade food, playing games and laughing. He enjoyed his grandchildren and often took care of them. He loved attending all of their school events like soccer, basketball, baseball, concerts and graduations.

He was very devoted to the Catholic Church and attended every week, rain or shine. He was a big part of the Portuguese community and loved to attend and be part of the big Portuguese festivals. John was a strong, loving man who will be truly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Firmino and Elisa; first wife Maria Jose; second wife Ana; daughter, Susanna; sisters Celeste and Mabilia; grandson Coleman.

He is survived by his children, Amelia and David; stepson Joe; son-in-law, Steve; grandchildren: Cody, Kurtis, Kiana, Lourenco, Santa, Shaneil, Brittany and Nicholas; great-grandchildren Leo, Luna, Gavin, Kayla, Kaden, and Kenley; many in-laws; many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.

The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved with his care in his final days.

Family and friends are invited to a public viewing and to share their final goodbyes at Goble’s Mortuary in Fortuna between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday December 19.

Funeral Services will be on Saturday, December 20 at 12 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Arcata, with a rosary prior at 11:30 a.m. Following the service John will be laid to rest at Ocean View Cemetery Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka at 2 p.m.

Pallbearers: Cody, Kurtis and Leo Pitzer, Lourenco DeMatos, Nicholas Machado, Frank Oliveira Jr., Anthony Lourenco and Brian Halverson.