Christopher Scott Mathis

Christopher Scott Mathis drew his last earthly breath in the arms of his wife, Johnsie Lang and his son Perry Mathis around 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023. A huge celebration of life will occur this fall with details to be determined.

Jerry Garcia Band was playing in the background "The Way You Do the Things You Do". How appropriate it was for him to leave this mortal world embraced by the two people he loved most and listening to Jerry Garcia reminding him " he could have been anything that he wanted to" because he, in fact, was just what he wanted to be!

He was a merry prankster with a captivating energy that attracted beloved friends like moths to the flames of his essence. He captured the true nature of Peter Pan in his endeavor to never grow up and surrounded himself with a loyal band of Lost Boys. Together they sought fun, excitement and mischief wherever they roamed. The only thing missing for him was true love and at last he found even that in his very own devoted Wendy, aka Johnsie. Neverland only got bigger and better when their son, Perry, was born. They were able to experience all the magic and joy of growing up all over again vicariously through him.

Chris's early years were spent happily wandering the streets of Southport with his pals. He loved his hometown mightily. By high school he was living in Hickory where he had to introduce those Piedmont guys to skateboarding. After graduating from high school he decided to attend the University of North Carolina in Wilmington after researching the positive ratio of female to male students. There he came to love the ocean and surfing even more than skateboarding.

After two years at UNC-W he made the transfer to North Carolina State University to pursue his goal of becoming an engineer. Working four and five part-time jobs he put himself through school and earned his engineering degree. He worked for North Carolina Department of Transportation for several years but came to realize Peter Pan would never waste his youth on such pursuits. His life was changed forever when a girlfriend took him to his first music festival. From then on he was hooked on the beauty of live music and socialization all in one. Chris, with his charming and disarming personality, and multitude of interests became quite an entrepreneur. He continued to buy and sell the rest of his life and was darn good at it!

The past few years had been difficult physically for Chris. He could no longer physically pursue his surfing and skating passions. His bones were wearing out, as was his heart. With trepidation he agreed to having bypass surgery in March. While recovering from the surgery he was prescribed Amiodarone. After all the many things he had put in his body this proved to the fatal one. He developed pulmonary toxicity to the drug and after weeks of suffering and struggling he passed on to another dimension. Grateful Dead might have sung, "Death Don't Have No Mercy" but in this case they were wrong.

Even though his electricity here has run out his love light continues to shine bright on all of us lucky enough to have known him and to have called him our friend. And if you knew him then you probably have a favorite story about him. Feel free to share. Chris would love to be so remembered! He never minded being the center of attention!

The details of a celebration of life will be coming in the future.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com for the Mathis family.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.