Elaine Mathes, 86, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away at the University of Chicago Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Lois Elaine (Beeler) Mathes was born in Putnam County, Missouri, on March 31, 1937, the daughter of Charley E. and Aletha (Pearson) Beeler. Her mother passed away when Elaine was two years old, and her father married Lenore (Stewart) Beeler who became Elaine’s mother. Elaine was raised in the Button Ridge area of Putnam County and attended country schools in that area. She graduated from Unionville High School in 1954 and married Ola “Dutch” Mathes in Graysville on June 24, 1954. They soon moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Dutch was employed with Knox Motor and Elaine was a wonderful homemaker. Her family remembers the immaculate way she did laundry and the hot breakfasts she prepared before school. Elaine helped her children with their homework, created math races to develop proficient math skills. She loved to do crossword puzzles and she put together her own crossword puzzle dictionary. She and Dutch worked together on quilts. They purchased the family farm in Graysville, Missouri, and set up a house there where they spent many, many enjoyable days. They loved to raise a garden in Rockford and Graysville. Elaine and Dutch traveled to Hawaii with daughter Peggy and her husband Steve. She attended the Southeast Church of Christ in Rockford and had attended the Church of Christ in Worthington. Her faith was very important to her. She loved to read her Bible and have her quiet time with the Lord to center her life.
Elaine is survived by her daughter, Peggy (Steve) Bogren of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Her grandchildren are David Mathes, Paul Mathes, Drew Bogren, and Tori Pillizzi. Her great grandchildren are Deven Mathes, Logan Mathes, Bella Mathes, Miles Bogren, and Frankie Pillizzi. Elaine is also survived by her sister, Venetta Keefauver of Rockford, Illinois.
Those who proceeded Elaine in death are her parents, her husband, who died on March 6, 2013, and two sons, David Lee Mathes and Larry Wayne Mathes, as well as a brother, Robert Beeler.
Funeral services for Elaine Mathes were at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home on Saturday, December 30, 2023. The visitation was one hour prior to the service. Darl Davis conducted the service with the congregation singing “How Great Thou Art” and “Sweet By and By.” The Pallbearers were Steve Bogren, Drew Bogren, Michael Beeler, Jerry Lee Keefauver, Steven Beeler, and Craig Dischinger. Interment was at the Lone Pine Cemetery.
Memorials may be made payable to the Lone Pine Cemetery and entrusted with the Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.
