Billie Matthis

FITHIAN - Billie J. "Jim" Matthis,
80, of Fithian passed away at 9:03 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 15, 2014) at
Country Health Care and Rehab Center in Gifford.

His funeral services will be held
at St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Champaign at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, with Pastor Laurie Hill officiating.

A visitation will be held from 4 to
7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Owens Funeral Home, Champaign.
Inurnment at Woodlawn Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may
be made to the American Cancer Society and St. Peter's United
Church of Christ.

He was born to William Henry and
Lela Lavada (Moore) Matthews on Sept. 25, 1933, in Envil, Tenn. Jim
married Mary (Mueller) Matthis on June 28, 1958, in Urbana.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary;
three sons, Chris (Patti) Matthis of Newman, Jeff (Kim) Matthis of
Penfield and Craig (April) Matthis of Bloomington; three daughters,
Debbie Richardson (David Barkley) of Champaign, Dawn (Brett)
Coddington of Monrovia, Ind., and Jodi (Mark Muller) Prosser-Muller
of Fithian; stepdaughter Marianne (Ken) Reid of Michigan; two
brothers, Jimmy (Clara Mai) Matthews of Tennessee and Jerry "Sam"
(Dow) Mathews of Georgia; and three sisters, Carolyn (Jacob) Rouse,
Kathleen Kilzer and Barbara Grimes, all of Tennessee.

He is also survived by 16
grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren
and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his
parents, two brothers, two sisters and one grandson.

Jim attended Chester County High
School in Henderson, Tenn. On Jan. 19, 1958, he met his wife, Mary,
at the USO of Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul where he was
stationed after his tour in Japan. He was medically discharged in
1964.

After that he worked as a tailor
beside his father-in-law at Kaufman's in Champaign; he also
tailored for Schumacher's on the University of Illinois campus. Jim
later worked in retail selling men's clothing and shoes.

Jim and Mary owned J&M Village
Donut Shop in Villa Grove from 1973 to 1979.

He enjoyed gardening, history,
classic literature, classic films, westerns and country music. His
favorite actors were John Wayne and Clark Gable. He and his wife
loved ballroom dancing; he moved like Fred Astaire. Jim was known
for his quick wit and off-color sense of humor. He will be greatly
missed.

Arrangements have been entrusted to
Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington with local
services being handled by Owens Funeral Home in Champaign.

Online condolences may be made to
the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.

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