Courtesy of Durant Daily Democrat

Elsie Mattingly

© Durant Daily Democrat

Monday, October 20, 2008

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

A celebration service for the life of Elsie Mattingly, 99, will be at Brown's Funeral Service Chapel in Durant on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 2 p.m. Rev. Joe Dee Ray will be officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Elsie was born April 26, 1909, in Bonham, Texas, to Ira and Mae Rigdon Ernest. She was one of eleven children. She died October 17, 2008, in Sherman, Texas.

Elsie married Harley Mattingly of Achille, Oklahoma, on October 25, 1931. He preceded her in death on May 5, 1970. Elsie had lived in Bryan County since 1913.

She graduated from Calera High School and continued her education at Southeastern State College graduating with a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. She spent a career of 32 years as a teacher in elementary education. She taught 19 years in Oklahoma and the last 13 years in Denison, Texas, retiring in 1974. She continued teaching young children in the preschool program at Fairview Baptist Church for several years.

She is survived by her son, Alan Mattingly and wife Sherell (Dowling) of Sherman, Texas; grandson, Mark Mattingly and wife Tonya of Mineola, Florida; granddaughters, Karen Dowty and husband Aaron of Houston, Texas, and Susan Mueller and husband Jake of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; sister, Helen Myers of Chicago; brothers, Carl Ernest and wife Joanne of Lytle, Texas, and Marland Ernest and wife Alice of Grandbury, Texas; and two great grandsons, Tyler Mattingly and Brett Dowty.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Ira and Mae Ernest; brothers, L.V. Ernest, Edward Ernest, Lloyd Ernest and Jewell Ernest; sisters, Ruth Kendrick, Christine Higgs and Betty Morse.

Elsie loved her Lord, family and her church where she sang in the choir and played the piano for her Sunday School Department. She loved to read the bible, play the piano and sing, harmonizing in the alto part. She led children's Bible Clubs and loved to work in Vacation Bible School.

Pallbearers are Melvin Ernest, Charles Dowling, Roy Boatner, Jerry Polson, Everett McGuire and Ron Little.

The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com.

Brown's Funeral Service, Durant is handling the arrangements

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