Donald Winfred Mattix

Donald Winfred Mattix: Don passed away Wednesday evening at Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa at the age of 94 years, 5 months and 28 days. Donald's family includes his wife, Mary Mattix of Oskaloosa; his children: Donna (Aaron) Gray of Eldon, IA; Beverly Green of Murray, IA; Howard (Valerie) Mattix of Omaha, NE; Bruce (Diana) Mattix of Rocklin, CA; Karen (Dan) Harris of Muscatine, IA and Sherry (Terry) Porter, also of Muscatine, IA. He was blessed with 13 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 13 step-great grandchildren and 2 step-great great grandchildren. He is survived by two brothers: John (Opal) Mattix of Oskaloosa and Dwight (Mary) Mattix of Issaquah, WA. Donald Winfred Mattix, son of Winfred A. and Lulu May Ross Mattix, was born June 8, 1913 in rural Beacon, Iowa. He attended Riverside Country School in Mahaska County and was a 1932 graduate of Oskaloosa High School. January 10, 1936, he was united in marriage with Mary Sarilda Huggins in Unionville, MO. They made their home in Oskaloosa, where they raised their family. As a young man he worked as a farm hand and also worked in the coal mines. Later he worked in the maintenance department at Mahaska Hospital, remaining there for eight years. He went on to start his own furniture shop on the Beacon Road where he made custom cabinets and did refinishing work. After two years on his own, he partnered with Carl Braaksma in the B & M Furniture Store; it was located on South Market Street. After five years in business, he joined Waal and Rexroth Homebuilders as a cabinetmaker; he remained with them twenty years retiring in 1978. Don enjoyed traveling, when his children were at home, they traveled the United States camping and seeing the sights. He loved photography and the families many trips can still be enjoyed because of the detailed slide shows he created. He was active with the Boy Scouts when his son's were of that age. Throughout his life Don had a passion for Bass fishing and everything associated with it. He was able to pass this love on to many young people over the years. Don's skill at woodworking was something he enjoyed even after retirement, his home and family were the recipients of his numerous projects ? Dad was always good to have around for many fix-it jobs. Don was a member of the Coal Creek Cemetery Association and his skills were vital to the Coal Creek Church restoration project. Don was a member of St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ and the Isaac Walton League. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three infant children; a brother, Ralph Mattix; a sister, Ruth Elizabeth Rodabaugh; an infant grandson, Gabriel Graves and a son-in-law, Gordon Graves. PDF Printable Version

Donald Winfred Mattix

June 8, 1913 - December 5, 2007