Jackson Lee J.L. Mathews, 88, of Orange, went to be with his heavenly father on February 18, 2011. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 21, 2011, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Reverend Kevin Trinkle will be officiating. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 p.m. at McMahan?s Chapel Cemetery in San Augustine, Texas. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.
J.L. was born to Jackson Lee Mathews, Sr. and Hattie Pearl Mathews on July 28, 1922, in San Augustine, Texas. He graduated from San Augustine High School in 1939. He trained in Sheepshead Bay, NY, and served in the United States Merchant Marines from 1940 to 1945. He made 7 voyages during the war years, and was lucky to be anchored in Tokyo Bay the day General MacArthur signed the Peace Treaty with the Japanese. He married Della Laverne Noble in 1945 and they moved to Orange to start their family. They had two sons: Joseph Jay Mathews and Stanley Noble Mathews, both of Orange.
J.L. was an operator at DuPont River Works for 38 years and retired in 1985. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he volunteered in the soup kitchen for many years. He was one of the founders of Twin County Little League. He loved to play golf, travel and play with his great-grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend who will be missed dearly. He had a kind, loving heart and enjoyed helping others.
J.L. is survived by his wife, Laverne: sons, Jay Mathews and wife, Betty, Stan Mathews and wife, Linda; three grandchildren, Bryan Lee Mathews and wife, Lisa of Kingwood, TX, Mandy Lea Mathews Mazzola and husband, Brian of Beaumont, TX, and Clay Michael Mathews and wife, Ayumi of Champagne, IL; and six great-grandchildren, Vincent Noble Mazzola, Anthony Clay Mazzola, Julian Joseph Mathews, Christian Samuel Mathews, Lucian Mathews Mazzola and Sakura Madison Mathews.