Jay Deverl Mattson

Jay Deverl Mattson passed away, February 21, 2017, at Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Jay was 95 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawford Floyd and Mary Alice Garrett Mattson; his brothers, Floyd (Mabel) Mattson, Calvin (LaRue) Mattson and Burl Mattson; sisters, Velmont (Dan) Cloud, Leahlin (Vernal) Goodsell, Ida Gens, Bonnie and Lucille; son-in-law, Scott Rasmussen; granddaughter, Erin Solomon and great-granddaughter, Threnody Weathers. Jay is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years, Bertha Colene Dennis and children: Connie Sawyer, Dennis Mattson, Mary (Norman) Solomon, Betty Mattson, and Denise Rasmussen. Jay and Colene are the proud and loving grandparents to 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. Jay is also survived by brother-in-law, Ralph Gens, sister-in-law, Joanne Mattson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jay Deverl Mattson was born October 4, 1921, at about 3:00 a.m. Jay’s first home was a two-room house on the family’s farm, located on Butler Island (aka Poplar), Jefferson County, Idaho. Butler Island is located approximately 5 miles from Ririe. Jay was the third child and second son born to Lawford Floyd Mattson and Mary Alice Garrett. Velmont was the oldest, followed by Floyd. The younger children were Leah, Ida, Calvin, Bonnie, Lucille and Burl.

Because their father often worked for wages, Floyd and Jay performed many of the day-to-day chores of the farm, beginning at a young age. They raised chickens, sheep, hogs and milk cows. There was always a large vegetable garden, sugar beets and wheat. The boys thinned sugar beets and gathered the wool they found, caught on barbed wire fences, for spending money.

Many of the lessons Jay learned, working on the farm, served him well his whole life. He learned to accept responsibility and see it through. When his family left the farm in 1936 and moved to Idaho Falls, he rode one of his father’s horses, about 26 miles. A year later at the urging of an aunt who lived in Portland, Oregon, the family moved again to find better employment. Jay, who was then 16 years old, and his brother Floyd, drove the truck with the family’s belongings, while their father drove the car. The trip took three days. The family’s first home in Portland was on SE Rural Street at 42nd Avenue.

The first year in Portland, Jay attended Milwaukie High School while living and working on a farm owned by Al and Martha Johnson in Sunnyside, Oregon. He visited his parents on Sunday. During the week, Jay milked cows in the morning and evening, cut kindling, and worked in the fields. The Johnsons were very good to him. Jay was paid $25 a month with room and board. He gave his mother $20 and kept $5 for himself. It was very hard for Jay to be separated from his family.

The next year he enrolled in a 3-year machinist course at Benson High School. Jay delivered the morning Oregonian and the evening Journal newspapers. Later he quit the paper routes and worked as a custodian at Benson High School. When he graduated from Benson High School, Jay got a job working at American Can Company, starting at $.35 an hour. Three months later, he went to work for Hyster Company starting at $.58 an hour. Jay retired from Hyster Company in 1983 after 42 years, having moved up to prototype inspector.

In April of 1942, Jay met a beautiful, 17-year-old, girl named Bertha (Colene) Dennis, at a Mutual dance. Jay said that when he first saw Colene, he knew she was to be his eternal companion. They were married in “Old (LDS) Stake House” on July 19, 1942. Jay and Colene were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 3, 1964.

Jay joined the Navy Airforce and shipped out on September 8, 1942. Colene joined Jay in Corpus Christi, Texas, in November 1942. Jay’s main job was airplane engine mechanic. Connie Marie was born, April 17, 1944, in Corpus Christi, TX, and Dennis joined the family, June 4, 1945, in Portland, OR. Jay was transferred to Santa Rosa, California, where he trained as an aerial gunner and was shipped out from there to go to the invasion of Japan. The war was over before they got to Hawaii, so they were dropped off at Pearl Harbor. Jay eventually discharged from the Navy on November 26, 1945.

Jay and Colene bought their first home on 118th Street in Portland, OR. Jay went back to work at Hyster Company and Mary was born, December 1, 1946. Betty joined the family, February 9, 1950, and Denise arrived, September 26, 1954.

In December 1965, Jay and Colene moved to 120th Avenue in Portland. In 2004, they moved to Russellville Park Apartments on 102nd in Portland.

Over the years, Jay and Colene loved to get together with Mel and Myrtle Hjorten, who they met during their Navy days. They were incredible friends. They also enjoyed spending time with Stewart and Della Jensen, Mel and Helen Randall, Earl and Jane Wiest and many more.

Jay loved growing a garden and supplied his growing family with vegetables, fruit and nuts. He always kept his yard neat and trim with beautiful flowers.

Jay loved fishing so he and Colene built a cabin at Island Park, Idaho where they spent many a summer day on Henry’s Lake fishing with Byron, Jay’s cousin and his wife, Marion.

One special memory that Jay’s children have is that even at 95 years of age, Jay would stand to greet them when they came to visit and rise again to kiss them good-bye. And until just the last year, he would walk them to their car and wait to see that they got off safely – giving a wave good-bye.

Over the years, Jay served many years as a Ward Clerk in the Portland Tenth Ward and later the Cherry Park Ward. Jay and Colene, also together, spent many years first working as Special Proxies in the Seattle Temple and later as Temple Ordinance Workers in the Portland Temple where they worked in the Baptistry. Jay had a strong testimony of his Heavenly Father and of his Savior Jesus Christ. He devoted his life to serving his family and those in need.

Jay looked forward to being reunited with his family and friends, but it was hard to leave his sweet wife, Colene. Jay was devoted to Colene and he told this writer that he hoped it wouldn’t be too long until they are once again together.

Funeral service will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Cherry Park Ward, 9901 SE Caruthers St. in Portland, Oregon followed by a 2:00 p.m. Dedication of the Grave at Riverview Cemetery in Portland.