GARNER - Catherine M. Mattis, 86, of Garner, died Sunday (January 18, 2009) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with Fr. Brian Dellaert officiating. Burial will be in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner with a CD of A rosary at 7 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Catherine Marie Mattis, the daughter of Oscar and Sarah (Peacock) Dennis, was born May 1, 1922, at Centerville. Her mother died 27 days after she was born. At the request of her father she was then raised by her maternal grandparents. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Centerville High School with honors in 1940. She continued her education graduating from Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa in 1942. On August 22, 1944, she was married to John T. Mattis of Albia at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville. They made their home in Albia where John was a teacher and Catherine worked as secretary to the principal at Albia High School. In 1947, they moved to Garner. While raising her family she was a costume coordinator/seamstress for Evelyn Wheaton Dance School, a florist for Blossom Shop and in 1958 went to work as a part-time clerk for Iowa Liquor Commission. In January of 1976, she became manager until her retirement in 1985. Catherine was the Garner correspondent from 1970 to 1975 for the Globe Gazette, Des Moines Register and KGLO. She enjoyed singing, puzzles, sports, playing cards, dancing, golfing, fishing and activities with her family.

Catherine was an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church where she served as a lector, Rosary Society, St. Boniface Choir and Catholic Daughter of the Americas. She belonged to the Garner Women's Golf Association, Music Boosters, Music City Chorus of Sweet Adelines and participated in the Garner Lions Minstrel Show. She was a past Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop leader and was a volunteer back-up caller for the Garner Ambulance Service.

Catherine is survived by her children, Michael (Judi) Mattis of Goose Lake, Ann (Larry) Hagen of Britt, Barbara (Larry) Eenhuis of Garner, John Mattis of Garner and Mark (Tina) Mattis of Torrington, Wyoming; fourteen grandchildren, Nicholas and Jeffery Mattis, Vance (Cindy) Hagen, Travis (Jamie) Hagen, Jason Eenhuis, Jeremy (Shelly) Eenhuis, Lucas Eenhuis, Yvette (Mike Ohotto) Mattis, Johnny and Zackery Mattis, Amber Mattis, Courtney Mattis, Matthew (Leane) Mattis and Ashley Mattis; seventeen great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John T. Mattis, Jan. of 1978; her parents; and a daughter-in-law, Yvonne Mattis; and special friend, Lynford Back. ... Read More