Doris Mathis

Doris Ann Mathis was the oldest of four daughters born to Raymond and Sara Marguerite Farrell Fattig on November 26, 1934, in Worth County near Grant City, Missouri. She graduated from Grant City High School, and December 1, 1951, she married Harold Christian. They raised their children, Mike, Mona, and Mitch, in Grant City and Independence, Missouri, then in 1963 moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa. Doris worked at Holub’s Greenhouse in Oskaloosa for many years. This job let her be at home with her children before and after school. This was very important to her. Taking care of her family came first to Doris.

In April 2, 1982, she married Jack Mathis. They moved to Des Moines where she eventually worked at Principal Financial Group. She and Jack had a full life in Des Moines, working, spending time with family and friends, and planting beautiful flowers in their yard each spring. Her daughter always said her Mother had ten green thumbs! She could make anything grow. Geraniums, roses, and impatiens flowers always filled the yard around her home.

In her healthier years, Doris loved to bake and cook for family gatherings. She especially looked forward to making candy and cookies for the Christmas holidays, and was always making some new crafts for the holidays as well. Even in her last weeks and days, she was still talking about groceries to buy and food to prepare!

Doris made an event out of every holiday whether it was Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, or Halloween. She decorated inside their home, put decorations on the door, and deck, and cooked special treats and meals for the occasion. Even when her sons and daughter were adults, she still liked to give them Easter candy and Valentine boxes of chocolate! She was a member of the Eagles Lodge Ladies Auxiliary and had been in the Red Hat Society.

Doris passed away Thursday night, May 24, 2012, at the Bright Kavanagh House in Des Moines, from cancer at the age of 77 years, 5 months and 28 days. Doris is survived by her husband, Jack Mathis of Des Moines; her three children, Mike (Brenda) Christian of Tracy, IA, Mona Christian and her husband Dave Kensinger of Petersburg, AK, and Mitch Christian of West Des Moines; step-son, Tom (Cary) Mathis of Oskaloosa, IA; three grandchildren, Abby (JR) Harris of Las Vegas, NV, Tyler (Sarah) Christian of Nevada, IA, and Tory Mathis of Oskaloosa, IA; three sisters, Bette (Danny) Gregory of Albany, MO, Jackie Fattig of Grant City, MO, and Jane (Ted) Hilton of Harrisonville, MO; sisters-in-law, Karen Ethington of Des Moines, IA, and Odette Mathis of Creston, IA; brother-in-law, Robert (Shirley) Mathis of Houston, TX; and several loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, two step-children, Michael Roy Mathis and Jacque Rae Mathis, and brothers-in-law Billie Mathis and Jack Ethington.

Doris would have loved knowing that her family and friends were gathered for this day. The main concern in her life was the safety and health of her family. Her peace of mind each evening came from knowing that everyone was safe at home with loved ones. And now her family can have peace of mind knowing that Doris is at rest, pain and worry free, with her family and loved ones around her here, as she joins those family and friends who have gone before her.

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