Evan Thomas Mathis, Jr., age 88, passed away on Dec. 20, 2014, in Atlanta, GA. Born in Americus, GA, on Dec. 23, 1925, to Lois McMath and Evan Thomas Mathis, he graduated from Americus High School prior to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. A class of 1947 USNA graduate, he served with the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean fleets. He also served as a Lighter-than-Air Officer (blimp pilot). In 1950, on St. Simons Island, GA, he met and married Nell McGehee Moreen of Macon, GA. After flight training in Pensacola, FL, he qualified as a carrier pilot. He resigned his commission in 1954. He joined Marble Products Co. and was named President in 1962, in Atlanta. He later became a commercial real estate broker in Atlanta, then became President of Concrete Products Co. after returning to St. Simons in 1975. He later worked as a self-employed commercial real estate broker, becoming a Life Member of the Glynn County Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club. He was involved in many business and social organizations, including the National Terrazzo & Mosaic Assn., Metalux Corp., Atlanta Freight Bureau, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn., Young Presidents’ Organization, Capital City Club, Piedmont Driving Club, Atlanta Downtown Kiwanis Club, Gyro Club, and Sea Island Club. He served on the Board of Directors of Citizens Bank of Americus and C&S National Bank, Atlanta. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Pace Academy. He was a former member of Peachtree Road Methodist Church (Atlanta) and current member of Christ Church, Frederica, Episcopal (St. Simons). He and his wife moved back to Atlanta in 2007. Mr. Mathis loved woodworking, flying airplanes, playing the harmonica, and spending time with his family at their farm in Talking Rock, their cottage on Little Cumberland Island, and their marshside home on St. Simons. He was a truly knowledgeable, entertaining, and jolly man, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 64 years; daughters Lane (Robert) Arnold of CO; Nell (Ralph) Black of Atlanta; Carol (Bill) Cartus of Atlanta; sister Lane (Julian) Price of Albany; grandchildren Jeremy (Christina) Ware, Nathan (Erin) Ware, Susannah (Jacob) Eastham, Nellie Black, Carmen and Madison Groom, great-grands Jonathan and Sophie Ware, and numerous kinfolk. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Lois (Walter) Kress. Graveside service will be Tues., Dec. 23, 2014, at 1:00 PM at Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta. A memorial service and reception will follow on Tues., at 4:00 PM at H.M. Patterson Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., Sandy Springs, GA 30328 with Dr. G. Gil Watson officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Historic Oakland Foundation, 248 Oakland Ave., SE, Atlanta 30312, or to Pace Academy, 966 W. Paces Ferry Rd, Atlanta, 30327.
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