Martha Cockerell Matthis

MARTHA GWENDOLYN COCKERELL MATTHIS, our beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, the 13th of July 2014, at the age of 94. All 3 of her sons were with her in her final hours.

She was born in Seymour, TX in the summer of 1920. Following her 1938 graduation from Vernon High School in Vernon, TX, Martha attended Texas State College for Women (now known as Texas Women’s University,) graduating in 1942 with a degree in Public School Music. She received further education in this field during the summer of 1947 when she attended Columbia University in New York City. Over the years, Martha taught school throughout Texas in LaGrange, Austin, San Angelo, Houston and Leverett’s Chapel.

While teaching in Leverett’s Chapel she met Leon C. Matthis, a Methodist Minister in the Texas Conference, and they were married on April 18, 1949. Leon and Martha served the church at Greggton UMC in Longview, St. John’s in Baytown, Williams Memorial in Texarkana, St. Phillips, Fair Haven, and Bellaire in Houston, and as District Superintendent in the Texarkana and Beaumont Districts. When Leon retired in 1987 they moved to Houston.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Caldwell Matthis, and her parents, Jesse James and Alice Lanier Cockerell. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Tom Cockerell; her former sister-in-law, Gwen Fouts; her 3 sons and their spouses, David Matthis (Karen) of Austin, TX; the Reverend Morris Matthis (Jepilyn) of Montgomery, TX; and Bob Matthis (Marian) of Franklin, TN. She is also survived by nephews Dr. Tom Cockerell, Jr; Perry Cockerell, Jesse Cockerell of Ft Worth, TX, Michael Matthis of Beaumont, TX and Rodney Runnells of Huntington Beach, CA; nieces Lavonne Cockerell Walters of Ft. Worth, TX, Pamela Cockerell Rushing of College Station, TX and Roseanna Matthis Sweatt of Bryan, TX; and eight grandchildren Paul, Jon, Steven (Carolyn), Kyle, Michael and Amy Matthis and Stella and Christian Eichelman; and many grand-nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Genesis Senior Care in Montgomery, TX for their gentle and loving care of Martha during her time there.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, July 17, 2014, 11:00 AM, at Fair Haven United Methodist Church, 1330 Gessner Drive, Houston, visitation begins at 10:00 AM, and a reception immediately follows the service. Interment will be held at 1:30 PM, at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston.

Martha asked that any memorial donations be sent to Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, 400 Private Road 6036, Palestine, Texas 75801. Donations may also be made through their website: http://lakeviewmcc.org/