April 5, 1936 October 5, 2012
Mat Perlot, 76, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was born in Portland, Oregon, and was raised in Portland and Welches, Oregon.
He served in the Army as an MP and paratrooper. After an honorary discharge, he worked for Thurlow Glove Company and then Columbia Sportswear as a production supervisor. In 1968, he left Portland to start his own outdoor clothing manufacturing company. After getting Western Trails established in Bend, Oregon, he left the garment business for the recreational vehicle business. He started with Beaver coaches, then Monaco, and Country Coaches as the marketing manager. He then went out on his own and started Safari Motor Coaches. Safari Motor Coaches eventually became SMC Corporation and included Beaver Coaches and Harney Coach Works. He also established Silver Creek Ranches of Oregon, LLC, in Riley, Oregon, where he ran cattle and grew alfalfa.
Mat is survived by Connie Perlot; sisters, Marianne, Leila and Susan; brother, Jerry. He had four sons from first wife, Mary Ann (Bernert). Sons, Mike (Kathy), David, Gordon and Martin (Myra); grandchildren, Chris, Robert, Taylor, Danielle, Peter, Molly, Greg, Little Mat, Justin, Brianna and Shay.
Mat was preceded in death by his father, Leonard; mother, Muriel; and sister, Jan.
In retirement, Mat lived in Arizona and spent time in Mexico and Alaska, where he would entertain friends and family on his fishing boat. He was always orchestrating the next great fishing adventure.
Through his long stay at the hospital at the end of his life he was jovial and doing his best to entertain visitors. Mat was always very giving. He paid for the college education of several of his employees children on the ranch and in Mexico and was a generous entertainer.
Memorial services will be Nov. 10, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., at Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home in Bend, Oregon.
More information and guestbook can be found at gatewaylittlechapel.com.
The family wishes any donations be made to Wounded Warriors.
Mats fish camp is closed. We will miss it very much.