Mathew Thomas Seltzer passed away peacefully, ready to meet his Lord and Savior, on Saturday, September 12, 2026. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Carolyn, in a graveside ceremony at the Burkett/Adams Cemetery in Burkett, TX, on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Mathew was residing in Huntsville, Arkansas, at the time of his passing.

Mathew was born to Maxine Burkett and Lanis Crowe on August 21, 1950, in Abilene, Texas. After his mother remarried, Mathew and his sister, Kathleen, were legally adopted by Donald William Seltzer. His sister, Sharon, was later born to Donald and Maxine and completed their family.

Mathew developed his deep love of family and faith in and around the town of Burkett, where he spent many summers and holidays visiting the farm of his beloved grandparents, Seth and Myrtle Burkett. Seth Burkett was a deacon and song leader at Burkett Baptist Church, while Myrtle played the piano and taught Sunday School. Mathew loved rabbit hunting with his granddaddy and his greyhounds. He fished in the tanks and swam in the creeks. It was there that he developed his lifelong love of gardening.

Mathew was born just 10 days before his cousin, Reggie Jones of Tyler, TX. The two were inseparable during their early childhood years in Waco and throughout their teenage years in Fort Worth. Through all the twists and turns of their adult lives, Reggie remained Mathew’s steadfast confidant and cherished friend until Reggie’s passing.

Mathew was a brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a graduate of C.F. Brewer High School in White Settlement, TX, where he was a proud member of the football and baseball teams and also competed in shot put. He began a career as a carpenter and handyman and always worked hard to support his family. He worked for a number of years at General Dynamics, contributing to the construction of aircraft. Later in life, he drove a school bus, serving students and families in several school districts. Mathew found joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially gardening, raising animals, and taking on all kinds of projects that kept his hands busy and his curiosity alive. Mathew loved to joke around and especially enjoyed making his grandchildren laugh. He was a great storyteller and had a way of bringing his stories to life, sometimes adding a little extra to make them even more entertaining. His sense of humor and storytelling will be fondly remembered by his family.

Mathew was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn; his first wife and the mother of his children, Judy Roane Bybee; and his parents, Maxine Burkett and Donald Seltzer.

Mathew is survived by his son, Kevin Seltzer, and wife, Jada, of Allen, TX, and Kevin’s children, Megan and husband, Michael, and son Paxton, and Caleb and wife, Allison, and son Andrew. He is also survived by his daughter, Sheila, and husband, Stephen Barker, of Weatherford, TX, and children, Jacob Will and wife, Jennifer; Joshua Will and wife, Eden; and Leah Barker and her son, Cassius Wilson.

He is also survived by his sister, Kathleen, and husband, David Harvey, of Lewisburg, TN; their son, Seth Harvey, and wife, Amy, and family; their son, David Harvey, Jr.; and Mathew’s youngest sister, Sharon Seltzer Dickinson.

He will be remembered with love by family, friends, and all whose lives he touched.

We invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Seltzer family by signing the guestbook on Mathew’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Seltzer family.