Ronald Edward Mathis passed away at his home in Holdenville on Monday morning, August 2, 2010, at the age of 63 years.

Ron was the son of Lowell Wesley Mathis & Janie Lou (Cargil) Mathis, born on August 22, 1946, in Richmond, California. He was brought up in the Bay Area of California. He joined the U.S. Army at age 17, serving part of his three-year term in Germany. He married Cecilia McDonald on April 17, 1972, in Ada, Oklahoma. They lived for many years in Winters, California, while Ron worked as an environmental manager for an asphalt refinery in Benecia. Ron & CeCe have made their home in Holdenville since 2002.

Ron loved, loved, loved to read, books of all kinds, his favorites being history and the Bible and biblical history. He loved to study the Bible researching the true meaning of each word, the Hebrew and the Greek meanings, to know the true meaning of God's word. He loved to study old books on Indians ways and customs.

He loved to keep current on news of the world, and was an extreme fan of FOX News, watching the Tour de France, boxing, football and UFC fighting. He also loved old movies with the REAL stars: John Wayne, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Catherine Hepburn, et al. Comedy was a huge part of Ron and the entire Mathis family! He loved the old Abbot & Costello shows. Ron had a great sense of humor, and his favorite thing was to sit with his Mathis relatives and tell stories and jokes.

Music was another great love, from gospel to classical opera and of course rock music; John Denver was a favorite. Gardening was another passion, and Ron grew beautiful vegetable gardens until health became a problem. He loved the ocean and he and his wife spent as many hours as they could on the northern California beaches. He also especially loved animals, especially dogs, and leaves behind three loyal companions, one who never left his side to the end.

Ron was a very caring and giving man. He gave to many in need, not being concerned for himself. He loved to buy Bibles in the clearance aisles of Mardel's and give them to those who did not have a Bible. He and CeCe spent many long hours at hospitals sitting with families of ill relatives, or people having surgery.

Ron was a charismatic and sociable person, always immediately loved by any who met him.

He leaves behind his wife of 38 years, Cecilia Mathis, of the home; one son, Ronald Wesley Mathis of Midwest City, a loving daughter-in-law, April, whom he loved dearly, and two wonderful grandsons - Nathan, age 7, and Jacob, age 3. He loved them all immeasurably. He leaves behind three sisters-in-law whom he loved and considered to be his sisters: Karen Foster of Holdenville, Dena Mathis of Eufaula, and Anita Shero of Hartshorne. He leaves two older brothers, Jack B. Mathis and wife Nancy, of Crestview, Florida, and Don Mathis and wife Nena, of Florence, Oregon; two nieces, Deborah Sturgill of Virginia and Sherri McIntyre of Oregon; nephews Justin Helberg of Oregon, Kenny Mathis of Arizona, Monty Mathis of California, and Rick Mathis of Missouri; various other relatives and many, many friends.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 9, 2010, 10:30 a.m. at Fisher Funeral Home's Lillye Chapel in Holdenville. www.fisherfh.net.