Former West Peabody Speedway President “Matty” Greer Passes at 81
Matthew M. “Matty” Greer
Matthew M. “Matty” Greer, 81, died suddenly on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Melrose, MA. Matty was the owner operator of the former Greer Garage on Lebanon St. and later on Broadway, Malden where he worked for 45 years. Matty was born in East Boston and educated in the Malden School system. He was a graduate of the Class of 1941. After high school he joined the US Army in April of 1943. After returning home from the war, Matty worked for the Fore River Ship Yard in Weymouth as a welder. He later opened the Greer Garage on Lebanon St. Malden in 1947. After six years he changed the name to Maplewood Motors and moved to Broadway in Malden. His younger brother Ralph Greer came into the business and the two worked together until Matty retired in 1992. Matty was a lifetime member of the Malden Chapter #1910 of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He loved dancing to country & western music and was an avid fan of auto racing and was at times an owner of cars himself. He was the former President of the West Peabody Speedway and was also an avid photographer. Matty lived in Malden for the last 65 years.
He is survived by his wife Marie C. (Plummer) Greer, his sons Charles M. Greer of N. Reading, Matthew M. Greer II of Saugus and his daughters Grace L. Costanza of Lynnfield, Dawn M. Zanazzo of Malden, Laura L. Greer of Randolph, his brother Alfred Greer Jr. of Hooksett, NH, Alvaro Greer of Framingham, George Greer of Wolfeboro, NH Ralph Greer of Malden and his sisters Theresa Whooley-Locke and Edith Smith both of Malden and his fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Alfred Greer, his mother Edith (Costa) Greer and his sister Alfreda Heath.
Visitation will be held at the Weir- MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St., Malden on Friday from 4-8 PM.
Contributions in Matty’s memory may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2003 at 9:00 A.M. Rev. Richard T. Bakker of St. Joseph’s Church will be the celebrant. Burial will be in the Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden.
Sources: Weir-MacCuish Funeral Home