TERREBONNE and LAFOURCHE Parishes, La.

OBITUARIY for  MATHERNE, ALAN JOHN 
 
Submitted by: Louis Lavedan

Published in Houma Today & The Daily Comet from Apr. 13 to Apr. 14, 2016

Died: Monday, April 11, 2016

=============================================================================
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml
=============================================================================

MATHERNE, ALAN JOHN 

==========
A photo is available for this file. Please go to
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafourche/obits/dateobits/2016/f1604.htm 
and click on the name of interest.
==========
 
*Alan John Matherne*, 58, died Monday, April 11, 2016 at his home in Larose, 
LA. Surrounded by his loving family, he passed away after a brave, year-long 
struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

He leaves behind two daughters, Janae Marie Matherne and Jani Marie Matherne of 
Larose, La; a granddaughter Adalyn Claire Langford; a sister Aischa Simon 
Prudhomme of River Ridge; and a brother Barry Matherne of Miami, Florida;, and 
his mother Enola Comardelle Simon of Bayou Gauche. 

He is preceded in death by his son, Joshua "Josh" Paul LeBlanc and his father 
Leo Matherne. 

Born and raised in the community of Bayou Gauche, Louisiana, Matherne was an 
avid outdoorsman who loved communing with nature. His love of the natural world 
led him to pursue and obtain a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology in 1981 from 
Nicholls State University. His dedication to teaching would later lead to a 
master's degree in Vocational Education in 1992 from Louisiana State University 
(LSU). 
Matherne was employed as a Marine Extension Agent with the LSU Agricultural 
Center and the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program from 1981 to 1997, where he 
served the coastal residents of St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Lafourche 
parishes. Matherne founded Mathco Computer in 1997 and worked in the private 
sector for more than a decade before returning to LSU in 2010, where he 
continued his marine extension work in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes until 
his passing. 
Throughout his career, Alan was the epitome of a dedicated public servant. 
Always willing to help, he worked tirelessly to provide science-based 
programming to meet the informational needs of coastal fishermen, landowners, 
business, local governments, and students. 

He was an avid reader, fisherman, diver, hunter, naturalist, teacher, and 
communicator. He was a loving son, brother, father and grandfather and a friend 
to many. Alan lived by the golden rule, believed in the power of positive 
thinking, and the importance of making a difference in people's lives through 
education. He will be sorely missed by both family and friends. 

Visitation will begin at 9:00 am with services being held at 10:00 am at 
Samart-Mothe Funeral Home in Cut Off, La on Friday April 15th, 2016 at 10 
o'clock. The funeral home is located at 15510 West Main Street, Cut Off, LA 

======================