Raymond Michael Mathers

On Sunday, July 15, 2012, Raymond Michael Mathers, Sr., passed away after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his loving family in his beloved hometown of Gulfport, MS.
Mr. Mathers was born May 23, 1934. He attended Mrs. Basloug's kindergarten through second grade, Gulf Coast Military Junior School, and Gulfport City Schools, graduating in the ""Class of 1951"". In 1955, he received a B.S. degree from the University of Mississippi with a major in Accounting.
During his working career, he was Plant Accountant for Sterling Drugs, known as the Milk of Magnesia plant. For many years he served as Financial Director for the Gulfport Separate School District. When the City of Gulfport changed to the Mayor-Council form of government, then Mayor Leroy Urie appointed him as the first Chief Administrative Officer of the city.
He was very active in his younger years in the Gulfport Jaycees on both the local and state levels. He served locally as president and a vice president of the Mississippi Jaycees. He was a former member of the Gulfport Rotary Club where he was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award, Broadwater Country Club, and charter member of Bayou Bluff Tennis Club. He was a member of the Gulfport Yacht Club and served as secretary for a number of years. He enjoyed the carnival season and was a member of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association, Les Cavaliers, and Krewe of Gemini.
He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Gulfport.
In his early years, Raymond enjoyed music and was a member of a musical group known as the Skylarks. He loved the outdoors; gardening, fishing, tennis, and golf were his favorite hobbies. His favorite pastime was playing sports and coaching his children in their early years. He and Anne had a wonderful retirement, travelling and spending time in Destin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nickolas Mathers and Amelia Joseph Mathers, his uncle, Michael Mathers, and his brother, George N. Mathers.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Myer Mathers of Gulfport, his sons, Raymond M. Mathers, Jr. of Beaumont, TX, and Richard S. Mathers of Gulfport; his sisters, Helen Mathers McDonald of Gulfport and Dorothy Mathers Myers of Tallahassee, FL, and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 5007 Lawson Ave, Gulfport, MS 39507 or Feed My Sheep, PO Box 6883, Gulfport, MS 39506.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:30 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church, Gulfport, MS with a visitation from 11:00 AM until the service. A reception will follow the service in the Christian Life Center at the church.
An online obituary may be viewed and tributes shared at www.riemannfamily.com.