Junior Earl Mathes

Junior Earl Mathes

Junior Earl Mathes, 84, of Unionville, Missouri, passed away peacefully at the Putnam County Care Center on January 1, 2013 where he had been a resident for a few months.
The son of William E. and Flora Mathes, he was born May 21, 1928, in the family home near Cross Trails in Putnam County. Junior was the grandson of Riley and Melinda Brown and Jasper and Bell Mathes. Junior was a member of the First Christian Church of Unionville and was baptized March 2, 2010, by Pastor Gene Weece.
He attended Graysville grade school and graduated from Unionville High School in 1946. On August 12, 1950, he was united in marriage to Opal Ouida (Casady) in Unionville, Missouri, who survives.
Junior is also survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Dennis and Jeneen Brown of Kirksville, two sons and daughter-in-laws Dan and Debra Mathes of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Dana and Stacy Mathes of Unionville, Missouri. His eight grandchildren are Jenny (Nathaniel) Alexander, Gentry Brown, Stacey Mathes, Justin Mathes, Haley Ballinger, Jordan Mathes, Hannah Mathes, and Grant Mathes. Junior is survived by one sister Willa Richardson. He is also survived by one brother-in-law and wife, Junior and Joyce Casady and one sister-in-law and husband, Chloe and Kermit Hamilton. He had several nieces and nephews.
Junior was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters and brothers-in-law, Clyde and Ruby Martin, Jack and Rita Buster, Ray and Dorothy Butler, and a brother-in-law Berdean Richardson.
Junior was drafted into the Korean conflict in 1950 and served two years. His group was the first one to leave from Putnam County as well as the first to go through Ft. Leonard Wood. After completing his service in the army, he engaged in farming and resumed teaching in country schools. When the schools consolidated, he taught art and physical education at the elementary level. He earned a degree from Truman University in 1969 (formerly Northeast Missouri State University). Junior taught almost forty years in Putnam County. He also enjoyed coaching his sons’ Little League teams for eighteen years. After retiring from teaching, he continued to ranch with his son, Dana and wife Stacy until he suffered a stroke in 2004.
Junior was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan as well as a Missouri basketball Tiger fan. He enjoyed quail hunting, playing cards, waxing his John Deere tractors, and working with the cattle. Junior’s competitive spirit and work ethics were exemplary. He touched many lives during his lifetime and left a wealth of memories that will sustain his family through the tough times ahead. He was very proud of his grandchildren and enjoyed watching them play sports and show their cattle at the Putnam County fair.
Dad and grandpa will always be a hero in the eyes of his family, former students and all who knew him.
Memorial services for Junior Earl Mathes will be held at the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 5th, 2013, with visitation two hours prior to the service. Pastor Howard Luscan and Pastor
Gene Weece will conduct the services with musical numbers The Old Rugged Cross and Daddy’s Hands. Casket bearers are Justin Mathes, Nathaniel Alexander, Jackie Buster, Jim Martin, Gary Martin, and Doug Kimmel. Honorary pallbearers are Ted Butler, Junior Casady, Bob Buster, Howard Anderson, Bill Richardson, Max Sparks, Floyd Wilcox, and his army buddies. Interment is at the Unionville Cemetery.
Memorials for Junior are suggested to a scholarship fund to a graduating senior majoring in elementary education and may be entrusted to the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St. Unionville, MO 63565.