Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Travis Mathis

Travis Mathis, 74, of Arkadelphia died Thursday, January 2, 1997, at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Hot Springs.

He was born December 1, 1922, in Rusk County, Texas, the son of Earl C. and Vesta Mathis. He moved with his family to Clark County in 1935, where they farmed. He graduated from Okolona High School in 1941 and went to Henderson State College, where his education was interupted by his service in World War II. He was captured and made a prisoner of war at the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to Arkadelphia to complete his undergraduate work and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Arkansas. While he was a student, he was first elected to the Arkansas Legislature. This was the first of many elective offices he held from County Clerk to Prosecuting Attorney for the 8th Judicial district.

He was a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia, where he taught the adult fellowship Sunday school class. He was a trial lawyer in Arkadelphia for 48 years and loved nothing better than to win a hard fought trial.

He is survived by four children, Sherry Donovan of Kansas City, Mo., Earl C. Mathis II of Tacoma, Wash., and Travis Mathis Jr. and Winston Clinton Mathis, both of Arkadelphia; his mother, Mrs. Earl C. Mathis of Arkadelphia; three sisters, Wanda June Wrinkle of Arkadelphia, Diane Blanton of Sherman, Texas, and Cayle Owen of Plano, Texas; and five grandsons.

Funeral services were Saturday, January 4, at Murry-Ruggles Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.