Mr. Allen H. Mathis, age 88, a native of Shelby County, Ala. and a longtime resident of Robertsdale, Ala., passed away Monday, July 27, 2015.
He was the son of John Bryant and Lorine Lexie (Brodgen) Mathis.
Mr. Mathis was a self-made man at the early age of 17, joined the Merchant Marine, and became commissioned with the U.S. Coast Guard, governed by the U.S. Navy, during WWII.
In 1944 he was trained as a gunner, and became an officer N3 in the Navy while still working on Merchant Marine ships providing supplies to the front lines of the war.
Once released from commission in the Navy, Mr. Mathis continued to work as a merchant seaman.
On the 27th day of January 1947, Mr. Mathis married the love of his life, Mary Alice (Aldridge) Mathis and moved to California. Once the couple established a home, they started their family and raised their two daughters and worked until retirement.
Once retired they moved back to Alabama. They made their permanent residence in Robertsdale, Ala.
Mr. Allen H. Mathis was preceded in death by his parents, John Bryant and Lorine Lexie Mathis; one brother, Don Mathis; and one great-grandson, Nicias Bram (Fox) Melvin.
Mr. Mathis is survived by his wife, Mary Alice (Aldridge) Mathis of Robertsdale, Ala.; his two sisters, Bobbie Monds of Bakersfield, Calif. and Susie Eicher of Bakersfield, Calif.; two daughters, Maria A. Williams of Houston, Texas and Rosie A. Fox of Foley, Ala.; four grandchildren, Matthew Adaman of Long Beach, Calif., Greta Zahler of Houston, Texas, Rebecca (Fox) Melvin (Andrew) and expectant great-grandson of Opelika, Ala., Alexandrea (Andrea Fox) Price (Keith) of Foley, Ala. and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be held Friday, July 31, 2015, 10 a.m. at the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery at Spanish Fort, Ala.
Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley.
