William A. Mathis Sr.

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[William A. Mathis Sr., 68, of Du Quoin, passed away at 3:35 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.

Bill was currently vice-president of Mathis and Sons Inc. He started out his career with Midland Coal Company in Elmwood. He moved to Du Quoin in 1973 and began working for Consolidated Coal Company. Bill had worked in the construction business for 49 years and began Mathis and Sons Inc. in 1973.

Bill was a 1958 graduate of Rushville High School at Rushville. He was a member of Local 520, United Mine Workers of America, Illinois Western Horse Show and Racing Association, the Nine-Day Trail Ride Association for 35 years and was a member and president of the Du Quoin Saddle Club for 33 years. He was also a member of the Associated Saddle Clubs of Southern Illinois and the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce. He never knew a stranger.

He was born April 21, 1940, at Browning, the son of Lloyd A. and Eva (Hoffman) Mathis.

He married Ruth A. Parry on Nov. 29, 1959, at Astoria and she survives.

He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin; one daughter, Jenny Schneider and husband Roger of Du Quoin; two sons, William A. Mathis, Jr. and wife Jean Ann and Mark A. Mathis and wife Kim, all of Du Quoin; two sisters, Patricia Breiland of Browning and Norma Eddington of Beardstown; seven grandchildren, Shannon Pursell and wife Michelle of Du Quoin, Logan Schneider of Du Quoin, Rick Schneider of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Garrett W. Mathis, Quinton R. Mathis, Austin G. Mathis, and Abbey E. Mathis, all of Du Quoin; and three great-grandchildren, Braeden M. Pursell and Ryker R. Pursell, both of Du Quoin and Jailyn Prior of Carbondale; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Fred Mathis, Robert Mathis, James Mathis and Jake Mathis; and one sister, Wilma Lamb.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at the Spirit of Life Christian Church in Du Quoin with the Rev. Gerald Wright officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.

Friends may make memorials to the American Diabetes Association, Barnes-Jewish Hospital ICU, or Nine-Day Trail Ride Association and will be accepted at the funeral home. For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, you may visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.