Jimmie Lee Matheson

Jimmie Lee Matheson, 94, died Sunday, November 25, 2012, in Amarillo.

Graveside services were held Saturday, December 1, 2012, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Bright Newhouse, officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Jimmie was born December 15, 1917, in Tundra, Texas to Earl and Bonnie Verell Cole, the fourth of nine children. She grew up in Windy Valley where she finished 10 years of school. She graduated from Clarendon High School and Clarendon Junior College.

She married Don Matheson in Childress on December 22, 1936. Their child, a son, was born in 1940 in Clarendon. She attended West Texas State Teachers College and the University of Arizona. She taught grade school several years in Sasabe and Amado, Arizona. She began working for the US Postal Service in Sasabe, Arizona in 1950. After moving to then, Fry, Arizona in 1954 which is now Sierra Vista, Arizona. She was appointed Postmaster there in 1957 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and completed 23 years of service before retiring. She and Don lived in Claude, Texas from 1974 for many years. She lived in Canyon and Amarillo in the years since her husband’s death in 2001. Jimmie will be missed by her family and friends. She was a very caring person to all those who knew her, she was forever and optimist. The family wishes to express their gratitude to attentive care givers at Emeritus Seville Estates, along with those who helped care for Jimmie in her last weeks from Accolade Hospice.

She is survived by a son, Don Matheson and wife Lynn of Amarillo; three grandchildren, Deborah Gorkowski of Tucson, Arizona, Dwayne Matheson and wife Cheri of Dumfries, Virginia, Dannie Lee Alvarez and husband Alex of Tracy, California; six great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and one sister in the Houston area.

The family request memorials be sent to Citizens Cemetery Association, PO Box 983, Clarendon, Texas 79226.