August 30, 1932 – April 22, 2019
Gordy (Joe) Mattox was born in a small town in East Texas to a family of seven. At the age of seventeen, he left Texas and headed to Arizona to help his elder sister and to get a job. He worked in the lumberyards in Arizona and learned a trade. After a few years he sought more job opportunities in San Francisco, where his older brother, JT, helped him get established. There he married his childhood sweetheart, Florence. They had three children, Gordon, Denise and Christopher (deceased).
After 10 years Gordy and his family moved to San Jose to buy their first home. They soon had another son, Steven. In San Jose, Gordy spent the next 30 years as a heavy equipment operator for Local #3 until retiring to Modesto.
Fishing was Gordy’s passion! When his children were young, you would often find them at Anderson Dam, San Luis Reservoir, and other local fishing holes. He made sure they knew how to bait a hook, that they knew the difference between a bluegill and a catfish (and how to catch them), and to appreciate nature.
Gordy and his family would take Sunday drives to Big Basin, Frontier Village, and other scenic areas. Soon the family developed a love of camping, purchased a Winnebago motor home, and began to spend summers at Thousand Trails, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and other local campgrounds.
The family would often meet up with their cousins, the Burnley’s, at various campgrounds and enjoy the outdoors, which was very rare for African American families in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Gordy also enjoyed visiting family in San Francisco, and each visit would be full of jokes, laughter and music and good food. Gordy had a nice singing voice and his brothers Kevin Charles (Bubba) and Twin sang, danced and played guitar. In San Francisco, Bubba would entertain them with his guitar playing, singing, and James Brown dance moves.
Gordy was a devoted 49er fan and would often speak of the days when the 49er’s played Kezar Stadium. As he became older and was unable to go fishing, Gordy enjoyed playing slots at local casinos.
Gordy is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Florence, his sisters Cloteil and Jocee, and his brother, Twin. He is survived by four children, Gordon, Steven, Denise and Odessa.
He is predeceased by his son, Christopher, and his brothers Shack, JT, and Bubba.
To his friends, Gordy was a man of few words and loyal to a fault. He loved his family and instilled in them his values of working hard, eating good barbeque, and love of family. He will be missed by all.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.
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