Vivian Marie Matlack went to heaven on Feb. 16, 2026 at her home in Hermiston at the age of 87, surrounded by her loving and devoted family.
She was born on Sept. 12, 1938 in Tupper Lake, N.Y. to Ross H. McGill and Emma V. Girard.
Vivian was a beautiful woman and a one-in-a-million mom, daughter, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all who knew her. When she was 10 years old her family moved from Tupper Lake, amongst the Adirondack Mountains, making the journey across the country to Umatilla because of the development of McNary Dam. She grew up enjoying the Umatilla and Columbia River Basin. Vivian later met and married Juan Villalobos Sr. in 1956 and raised a large and loving family of six children along the Columbia River on a small piece of land adjacent to the railroad known as Juniper Section, where many adventures were had and memories made.
She enjoyed working as a rural census taker in 1970. Later the family moved to Punkin Center Road, where Vivian pursued a nursing career initially as a nurse’s aide. Self-motivated and tenacious, she graduated in 1973 from Blue Mountain Community College with a nursing degree, proudly making the Dean’s List. She happily served her community at Good Shepherd Hospital and later worked for TLC Home Health until her retirement in 1994.
Mom remarried in 1974 to Ronald Matlack (for 44 years), adding a loving daughter to the family. Years later a move to the Oregon coast was made, where she came out of retirement and was a private in-home caregiver. She was a much appreciated volunteer at the local school district as a Lunch Buddy and a SMART Reader. Her love for the outdoors and all animals was reflected in her involvement with Beach Watch with an adoption of a one-mile section of the shores reporting beach erosion and injured animals. In 2014, they returned to Hermiston to be close to family.
Mom loved the outdoors, whether she was soaking up the sun on the banks of the Columbia River (at “our beach”), camping, fishing or agate hunting at the Oregon coast with all who shared her passion. She had a fun sense of humor and was spontaneous, a collector of curios, and a Dodgers fan.
We deeply miss the matriarch of the family, her sparkling eyes, broad smile, quick wit and infectious laugh, along with her feisty spirit. Vivian could often be found nose-deep in her books or hand-deep in a cookie jar; the ultimate cookie ‘mom’ster. Most importantly, she was a loving mother and grandma. We will always fondly remember her waving goodbye with a booming “Woohoo” as any family member drove out of sight.
She is survived by her sister, Edie Adams; and the legacy that she built will endure in her seven surviving children, Juan Villalobos Jr. (Dagny), Enedina Schulz (Mark), Victoria McWilliams (Terry), Michelle Jones (Jeff – deceased), Natalie Hodges (Dale), Elisa Sobotta (Sam), and Erica Matlack; her 10 grandchildren, Micheal Boedigheimer, Jory and Jared Sobotta, Jessica Harvey, Ross McWilliams, Jillian Koland and Kate McWilliams, Mallory Villalobos, Perrin Jones and Julien Trujillo; and her 10 great-grandchildren, Ross McWilliams Jr., Emma, Brynn and Mae Harvey, Grayson Koland, Penelope Alarcon-Trujillo, Slade and Elsie Bork, and Desi and Miles Sobotta.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Ron Matlack; brother, Girard McGill; mother, Emma Clow; and father, Ross H. McGill.
There will be a private family celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society or Hermiston Pet Rescue.
Please share memories of Vivian with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
