Burley Ray Mathis, age 80, of Bardwell, passed away at 11:20 AM at Lourdes Hospital on Sunday, December 18, 2016.
He was the Carlisle County High School Principal for 25 years and served as an educator for 33 years. He began his career as a teacher and basketball coach at Arlington Elementary School. Mr. Mathis was beloved by his students and faculty as a strict but fair principal that truly cared about each of his students. He served as a member of the Bardwell City Council for 12 years and was a dedicated Carlisle County Magistrate since 1999. He was a well respected farmer and partner in Mathis and Gill Farms for over 30 years, farming in Carlisle, Hickman and Ballard counties. He was a member and Sunday school teacher at Bardwell Baptist Church.
Burley loved baseball and was a member of the Burkley Giants team and was a four year starting baseball player for Murray State University where he received his B.S. and Master’s degrees. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraterntiy.
Burley Mathis is survived by his wife, Pat Tolbird Mathis and two daughters, Pam Mathis Gill and husband Tony of Bardwell and Crystal Mathis McIntyre and husband Scott of Bardwell and one son, Tim Mathis of Franklin, TN. He is survived by six grandchildren; Megan Gill Koch and husband David of Paducah, Vince Gill of Louisville, Aaron Mathis and Ross Mathis of Franklin, TN and Cye and Cash McIntyre of Bardwell.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cye and Lena Thomason Mathis.
Visitation for Mr. Mathis will be held at Bardwell Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 20th, from 4:00-8:00 PM. Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM Wednesday at Bardwell Baptist Church with Rev. Rodney Bice officiating and burial in Burkley Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital.
You may leave a message and light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com.
