Search Team Profile: Smokey Mather

Smokey Mather, Texas EquuSearch

Texas EquuSearch is again spotlighting a special volunteer each quarter that has helped bring closure or resolve to the distressed families of missing persons. It’s always hard to pick just one, because there is so many outstanding, caring and committed individuals in our organization. We will choose a different member of Texas EquuSearch every quarter, and this quarter; we have chosen ATV searcher Donald “Smokey” Mather.

Smokey Mather has been a dedicated EquuSearch volunteer for many years, and whenever possible; he will load up his ATV and to go search for another family’s missing loved one. For those of you who know him, you know he is a hard worker with an easy-going attitude and ready laugh. Smokey serves on the Crime Control and Prevention District for the police department in his hometown, Deer Park, Texas. He is a member of the Livestock Committee for the Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo, and volunteers as a Watch DOG at his grandkids’ school. Smokey also serves at his church as a member of the security team, and with any projects that could use his expertise as a carpenter. Smokey loves his country, and he proudly served as a sergeant in the US Air Force, doing a tour in Vietnam.

Smokey has a love for bull riding, and he started entering youth rodeos in high school and rode bulls all over Texas and in California and Oregon when he was stationed there. Smokey also loves the game of baseball, and he started playing the game in little league and played all through school … even trying out for the Astros organization as a walk-on. He played fast-pitch softball for decades, traveling all over the country for tournaments. Smokey used his experience to coach his son’s baseball teams, and his daughter’s softball teams. Smokey has coached his grandson’s teams, and he worked as an umpire for little league and pony ball. But Smokey never told anyone what a great dancer he is though. Smokey and his wife Gay even won a dance contest once, and they didn’t even know they were competing.

Smokey has been happily married to his wife Gay for 41 years, and they have been blessed with two daughters and a son, two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law that they love like their own, and five beautiful grandchildren. Texas EquuSearch is very fortunate to have a volunteer like Donald “Smokey” Mather as part of our organization.