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Elizabeth "Bettye" Jane Mathis, most recently of Maple Leaf in Statesville, passed away on Thursday, December 28 at the age of 97. Bettye was born in Miami, Florida on July 26, 1926, to Ernest Paul Prather, Sr. (of Georgia) and Marguerite Alice Brennan (of Ontario, Canada). Bettye lived in Florida, Louisiana, and Arizona before relocating to North Carolina to be near family. As a member of St. Therese Catholic Church in Mooresville, she attended Mass there every weekend for over 25 years. Bettye, known as Mimi to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was an avid reader and library patron and loved watching old Hollywood musicals. Her other hobbies included oil painting, taking camping trips around the U.S. with her family and friends, and hiking and horseback riding in places like the Grand Canyon. Bettye was also a world traveler and some of her favorite memories included climbing pyramids in Mexico and visiting castles in England. She was a longtime volunteer at Lake Normal Regional Medical Center and a member of the local chapter of the Red Hat Society. Bettye is preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers, Ernest Paul "Buddy" Prather, Jr. and James Thomas "Tommy" Prather; her husband, Charles Henry "Hank" Mathis; and her daughter, Diane Mathis, and her youngest son, Phillip "Buddy" Mathis. She is survived by her sons Stephen Mathis of Washington state and David Mathis of Mooresville; her grandchildren Jennifer Richardson & Melanie McIntosh of Mooresville, Amanda Morgan of Washington, DC, and Ariel Hoirup of Washington state; and her great-grandchildren Michael Graham, Nickolas Riddle, and Kaitlyn Baxley of Mooresville and Logan, Alice, and David Hoirup of Washington state. Bettye was cremated, per her wishes. The family will have a small service at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home in Mooresville on Sunday, January 14, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, open to all friends and family. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to two causes close to Bettye's heart, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Mathis family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

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Elizabeth Jane Mathis

July 26, 1926 - December 28, 2023