Funeral services for Jerome "Rocky" Matthews, Jr., 67, of Livingston, Texas will be held Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at Holhausen-Darby Cemetery in Moscow, Texas with Bro. John Taylor officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 5, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Onalaska, Texas.

Rocky was born August 4, 1957 in Houston Texas and passed away October 29, 2024 in Livingston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his mother, Wanda Faye (Richards) Laird; and grandparents, Faye and Brodie Jones.

He went to school in the Woodlands, but any spare time he had was spent on the farm in Moscow with his huge family. He grew to love the outdoors and spent time camping, hunting, and fishing. He was very talented with his hands and dabbled in carpentry and woodworking. He has built several handcrafted long-bows, and even built Makenzie's first toddler bed. He also really enjoyed cooking and baking. He was an excellent salesman and probably could've sold a car to a brick wall. He was a truck driver for a little while and his favorite place he drove was Montana. Rocky loved the mountains and always wanted to go to Alaska. He served on the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department and he was a paramedic as well. Through all of that, his biggest accomplishment was becoming a father to McKenzie. He devoted his whole life to fatherhood and was an amazing father. He was also a great son, brother, cousin, and friend. He will be missed by many.

Rocky is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Makenzie Matthews and Sterling Martin; mother of Makenzie, Shelbi Jernigan; stepsons, Dustin Phillips and Travis Phillips; stepdaughter, Erica Underferth; brothers, Scott Laird and Jon Laird; niece, Jordan Weems; father, Hank Laird; special aunt, Linda Gerard; and special cousins, Sherri, Robbie, Julie, Bobby Frank, and Trae; as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers: Sterling Martin, Ryan Maddox, Jakob Miller, Bobby Frank Davies, Bobby Maddox, and Trae Gerard.