Roll Call Tribute

James R. "Jim" Mathis 

February 13, 1934 - May 7, 2024 

James R. "Jim" Mathis was raised to new life with Christ Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Jim Mathis at 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 20th, 2024, at First Methodist Church of Waco, Texas. A private burial service will be held at Bosqueville Cemetery.

Jim was born February 13th, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas, to Lexie and Ruth Mathis. He and his sister, Lexie Mathis Van Tassel attended Brackenridge High School and Jim graduated from Texas A&M University in 1955. He served three years in the United States Air Force and married the love of his life, Patsy Freeman August 3, 1957. They lived in Waco for 62 years where they raised their four sons and were active in the community.

Jim joined the Prudential Insurance Company in 1958 and experienced tremendous success, serving clients throughout Central Texas. He specialized in business life insurance solutions as well as estate and charitable planning. Over his 60-year career he qualified for countless production awards and qualified for the prestigious MDRT Court of the Table multiple times. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Chartered Financial Consultant. Jim was the consummate professional; naturally competitive, genuinely sincere, a lifetime learner, and a friend to every client. He worked with Andy and Jay for many years and finished his career with his business partner and friend, Rick Abbe. Jim loved his Waco community and served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA, the Waco Boys & Girls Club, and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award of the Boy Scouts of America (Troop 308). He served on the Waco City Council from 1980-83, and as Mayor from 1982-83. Jim also served on the Board of Directors of Texas First State Bank from 1998-2016. He and the family were active at First Methodist Church Waco, Westside Community Church, and Grace Church Waco. Jim taught Sunday Schools and home groups, served as a Deacon, and raised funds for church growth and missionary efforts.

In his spare time, he coached little league baseball and YMCA basketball teams, took the family camping, hiking, and snow skiing, and enjoyed business conferences in wonderful locations with Pat. They loved traveling to Red River, New Mexico, and shared their family cabin with friends and family for the past 45 years. Their playroom was filled with Jim’s trophies from local tennis tournaments, along with his 1953 National Collegiate Handball Doubles Championship trophy, which he won with life-long friend Don Johnson. The Mathis Invitational Handball Extravaganza offered a Unicorn division for first-timers, to the more competitive T-Rex division. It was held every year from 1988-2013 and attracted handball players from around the state.

His grandkids have played every game imaginable with their Pop, many of which he made up on the spot and was known for changing the rules when it suited him. He loved his sons and his 13 grandchildren dearly, always giving time to each of them, whether it was a long game of chess, shagging balls in the backyard, shooting hoops, playing Gin on the couch, or simply enjoying their company over countless dinners, birthday parties, and trips.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lexie and Ruth Mathis; his wife, Patsy Freeman Mathis; his sister Lexie Ruth Van Tassel; his son, Philip Freeman Mathis; and grandson, Joshua Robert Mathis.

Jim is survived by his son, Andy and wife, Laura Leigh; Dana Mathis (wife of the late Phil Mathis); son, John and wife, Tina; and son, Jay and wife, Lydia. Jim is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren: Sarah Mathis, Stephen Mathis, Jarrod Mathis, Micah Mathis, Tyler Mathis, Lawrie Bomar and husband Jonathan, Karena Mathis, Annie Elequin and husband Nathan, Emma Spradley and her husband Jeff, Grace Pittman and her husband Collin, Matthew Mathis, Elizabeth Mathis, and great grandchildren Eleanor, Emery and Jack Bomar and Eden Spradley.

Memorials may be made to CareNet Pregnancy Center, Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry; the Alzheimer’s Association; or the Africa Renewal Ministries -USA : https://africarenewal.org/

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on Jim’s "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.