James (Jim) Lamar Mathis passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2017 after a short illness. He was 79 years old.
Born on May 15, 1938 in Quincy, Florida, Jim graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 1956. His advanced education was in electronics / computer technology. Jim began his professional career with Federal Electric on the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) and went on to retire from both Sperry Univac and Veritas as a computer systems field engineer. He was a veteran of the US Marine Reserves.
His avid interest in science and technology meant that he was a lifelong learner. Education was very was important to Jim, something he instilled in his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life, Jim spent many happy hours with his family, water skiing and flying model airplanes but nothing made him happier than fixing things. He was a real-life MacGyver. During the forty-eight years he and Mary lived in Maitland and raised their children, he built their two homes.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Ellen Merchant Mathis; his son, James Kyle (Laura) of Perry, Georgia and Kristin Ellen Fleis (Brian) of Melbourne; his brother, Marvin Howard Mathis (Florita) of Fort Lauderdale. He was a beloved Poppy to three grandsons, Alex, Gabriel and Beau Fleis of Melbourne and Uncle Jim to five nieces and nine nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Priester and Eloise Rudd Mathis.