Clyde Mathis, a beloved resident of Paola, KS, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024, surrounded by his Vintage Park community—friends and staff who Clyde called family. He was 90 years of age.
You could say that Clyde was born with a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face and an innate knack for making others laugh. He lived life with the same comedic spirit found in one of his favorite songs, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way.” It was his imperfections that in many ways made him perfect and unforgettable to all who knew him.
Clyde was born in Drexel, MO on April 10, 1934 to Blanche (Nickle) and Elva “Slats” Mathis. He grew up near Paola in the community of Chiles. He was a graduate of Paola High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Korea. Clyde married his sweetheart Peggy Ann White of Osawatomie, KS on Valentine’s Day in 1959 and they shared 59 years of marriage. Together, they had two children, Nancy and Brent.
For over 30 years, Clyde worked as a millwright at Bendix, where he developed lifelong friendships in break rooms, on commutes and across the facility. After retiring, he worked part-time at the Farm Services Agency in Miami County as a field assessor. Clyde enjoyed tending to his creative and artistic side, with his woodworking and welding skills making yard art sculptures. He is most known for his birds made of scrap metal that he would often donate to community organizations for auctions and fundraisers. Clyde also had a sweet tooth, known to some as Candy Man—always with a pocketful of hard candy ready to share.
He and Peggy were avid Kansas basketball fans who looked forward to every game to cheer on the Jayhawks. They shared a love of antiquing, road trips, gardening and adventures with their two granddaughters, Ashley and Erika, often playing games in the car and laughing at every turn.
Over the past 15 months, Clyde took his infectious laugh and ornery personality to Vintage Park, winning a talent contest, multiple awards and weekly games. He was a member of First Baptist Church, a Freemason for over 60 years, and proud of 38 years of sobriety—reaching this milestone one day at a time and with prayer.
Clyde was preceded in death by his parents Blanche (Nickle) and Elva “Slats” Mathis; his wife, Peggy (White) Mathis; and his two sisters, Alice Grandon and Jo Anne Hileman. He leaves behind his sister Ada Gerlach of Hot Springs, AR; brother-in-law Lawrence White of Osawatomie, KS; his daughter Nancy Mathis (Darcy Domoney) of Leawood, KS; his son Brent Mathis (Emily) of Ottawa, KS; his two granddaughters, Ashley Graves (Chris) of Henderson, NV, and Erika Debrick of Paola, KS; and many nieces and nephews to whom he is affectionately known as Uncle Sonny.
A visitation and funeral service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Paola on November 26. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 a.m., with the service directly following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to organizations dear to Clyde: First Baptist Church, Vintage Park, Valley Hope or OZone Sport & Fitness. Clyde will be deeply missed, yet his legacy will live on in the smiles and laughs he brought to so many.
