Clinton Math Deatherage

Funeral services are scheduled at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home located at 5701 S. Hwy 277 at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, April 15. Family visitation will be from 11:00-1:00 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Round Mound Cemetery in Hamby.

Math was a native of Abilene, attending schools in Abilene and Cisco Jr. College. He and his wife Jan are the owners and proprietors of Deatherage Music Company located in Abilene since 1970.

He was an extremely gifted luthier and made many outstanding violins and other stringed instruments. He began his craft of fiddle making whittling at his grandfather’s knee when he was just a boy. He not only made instruments, he was a musician of renown having won many fiddle contests throughout the country. For 43 years Math and Jan officiated the Western Heritage Fiddler’s Contest held every year Mother’s Day weekend during the Western Heritage Classic. He was commissioned by the state to make a violin commemorating the Sesquicentennial of Texas which was displayed at the capital.

He is survived by his wife Lucinda Jan; their daughter Jennifer Thompson and husband Kelly and their daughters, Kassidy and Ashley. He is also survived by his brother, Ken Deatherage; sister, Martha Murray and several dear nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers, Jerry Don, Riley and A.L. Deatherage and sister, Cora Jane.

Math will be sorely missed among his many clients and friends he made through the years. He was a teller of tales and entertained many in this manner. You were always welcome to stop by his shop and talk instruments or just listen to a tale.

The creative genius of Math’s hands was silenced here, but we think he’ll be busy making instruments and music in Heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:11-13.