Russell Mathes

RUSSELL LEE MATHES

Russell Lee Mathes, age 90, of Kahoka, MO, passed away on Friday, September 15, 2017 at the Scotland Co. Hospital in Memphis, MO.

Russell was born September 4, 1927 at home in rural Scotland County, a son of Paul and Marie Cook Mathes.

He married Marna Martin on June 26, 1949 at the First Christian Church in Memphis, MO and they were the parents of Randy and Ritchie.

Survivors include his wife, Marna, of Kahoka; two sons, Randy (Barbara) Mathes of Arbela and Ritchie Mathes of St. Louis; two grandsons, Travis (Carrie) Mathes of Kahoka and Jamie (Megan) Mathes of Arbela; three great-grandchildren: Bentley Mathes of Kahoka and Kayleigh and Xander Mathes of Arbela; three step great-grandsons: Maddox, Kaleb, and Brayden Worrell of Kahoka; as well as several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard Mathes; and his father and mother-in-law, Crate and Fern Martin.

Russell was involved in farming all of his life. In high school he had been a member of the Memphis High School FFA and he always said that is where he acquired his love for agriculture. Russell managed the MFA elevator in Wyaconda and later the elevator in Kahoka before retiring with 27 years of service with the MFA. He enjoyed woodworking and had a passion for restoring old tractors and farm machinery or as he called it "gathering up the green". He loved to breathe life into tractors that would have otherwise ended up in the scrap yard. He would spend hours with anyone who would stop and look at his collection. Russell was a member of the Fox Valley Two-Cylinder Club, the Clark County Mule Festival Committee, a retired director of the Clark County Rural Water District where he fought tirelessly to bring rural water to the rural residents of the county, and a life-time member of the Masonic Lodge. He took pride in his farm and loved spending time with his livestock.

Memorial services were held Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka with Pastor Barb Hagerla and Mr. Travis Mathes officiating. Recorded music selections were: "Go Rest High", "I Did It My Way", "Crying For Me" and "Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone".

Private inurnment will be at a later date in the Etna Cemetery.

Friends called at Wilson Funeral Home after 9 a.m. on Wednesday with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. until time of services at 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Scotland County R-1 FFA Chapter for a one-time scholarship in Russell’s memory for a student pursuing a career in Ag Business. Checks may be made payable to Scotland County R-1 FFA Chapter.

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.wilsonfuneralservice.com.

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Friends may register at Wilson Funeral Home after 9 a.m. Wednesday with family receiving friends from 5 pm until services at 6:30 pm.