Lela Belle Matto's Obituary
Matto, Lela Belle Patton Was born to Vera Beene Patton and Walter Randolph Patton on March 23, 1927 and passed on to her heavenly home on September 15, 2008. Although her early life was spent on a farm in Cotton Gin, Texas, she always wanted to be a city girl. After graduating from Teague High School and attending Texas Tech in Lubbock where she met the love of her life, Benjamin (Ben) Matto, she moved to Dallas and worked for the Magnolia Pipeline. On August 10, 1947 Ben and Lela Bella married and proceeded to pursue their dreams of having a family and eventually starting an air conditioning and heating business based in Dallas. They celebrated 50 years of marriage before Ben’s death in 1997. Lela Belle loved her family, friends, playing a good game of Bridge, spending vacation time in their mountain home in Ouray, Colorado and traveling the world- always returning to her beloved Dallas. Lela Bella was a member of Westshore Presbyterian Church in Dallas for many years and a member of North Park Presbyterian since 1987. Precededing her in death were her parents and husband as well as her older brother, Walter Randolph (Pattie) Patton, Jr. and his wife, Mary. She is survived by her four children: Brenton Wade Matto and his wife, Sarah, of Wolfe City, Texas; Jennifer Malani of Mesquite, Texas; Barton Ben Matto of Dallas, Texas; and Cindy Slayton and her husband, Steve, of Grandbury, Texas; 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; her brother Billie George Patton and his wife, Nelda; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and dear friends. charity.
What’s your fondest memory of Lela?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lela?
Share a story where Lela's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lela you’ll never forget.
How did Lela make you smile?

