Carole H. Mathis

Carole Holtkamp Mathis departed to be with her Lord and Savior on September 20, 2011 after a 42-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Though a challenge, this suffering did not define her life. She was defined by her faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and by her profound love for God's Word.

Carole was born December 14, 1928 in Houston, TX to Odia and Ernest Holtkamp. She graduated from Austin High School in 1945 and married her soldier returning from World War II. She and Martin Mathis were married 51 years before his death in 1996. They had three children and pursued life surrounded by family and friends for holidays, vacations, and days marked by great joy, always supported by Carole and her great zest for life.

Carole is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her son-in-law, Jerry Griffith, and her brother-in-law, C.W. Gossett.

Carole was proud to be a homemaker, Bible teacher of children and avid cheerleader of her own. She was a member of Berachah Church.

She is survided by her children and their spouses: Marsha and L.D. Eckermann, Martin, Jr. and Lana Mathis, and Mark and Karen Mathis. She leaves a beautiful legacy to her beloved grandchildren: Caroline Janes, David Griffith, T.J. Griffith, Brian Mathis, Jill Smethurst, Billy Wiltshire, Courtney DeLira, and Jessica Weiman. Dear to her heart were her 17 great-grandchildren: Hunter, Lily, Jackson, Joshua, Jacob, Joseph, Georgia, Garrett, Macie, Marshall, Lila, Kylie, Elijah, Adyson, Aubrey, Glenn, and Tyler.

Carole will be greatly missed by her sister, Mary Lou Gossett, and her niece and nephews: Judith Carole Connater, Chuck Gossett, and Carl Gossett, as well as their families.

The family has been blessed by the watchful care of Norma Chandler. We appreciate her love for Nanny and the home she sustained for her and Mattie.

The family will receive visitors Friday, September 23 from 6:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. Celebration services will be Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale with her nephew, Chuck Gossett officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Pallbearers are her grandsons, David Griffith, Brian Mathis, T.J. Griffith, Billy Wiltshire, Jason Janes, Ben Smethurst, Chuck DeLira, and Jason Weiman.

Carole would encourage contributions to: Berachah Church 2815 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056.