Peyton Kirk Mathis

Memorial services for Peyton Kirk Mathis, 76, of Lufkin, will be held Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lufkin First United Methodist Church, of which he was a member. Dr. Charles Wisdom and Senior Pastor D. Nick Sholars will officiate, with the eulogy offered by Mayor Bob Brown. A private graveside service will be held in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park prior to the memorial service.

Peyton was born April 1, 1938 in Lufkin, Texas to the late K.P. “Red” and Hazel (Weems) Mathis and died Monday, August 11, 2014 at Hospice in the Pines at Memorial Hospital.

He was a 1956 graduate of Lufkin High School and attended Sam Houston State Teachers College and Stephen F. Austin State University. In 1957, Peyton married the love of his life, Barbara Atkinson Mathis. They would have been married 57 years this September.

Peyton was employed with Southland Paper Mills for 10 years and then co-owner with his father of Lufkin Farm Supply (the Purina store) until his father’s retirement in 1985. At that time, Peyton expanded the business by adding Lufkin Farm Nursery and a lawn and landscaping service. He sold his businesses and retired in 2000.

Peyton was a very active member of The Lufkin Roundtable, a group of business and civic leaders well known for their good cooking, camaraderie and enthusiastic promotion of Lufkin. The Roundtable’s cooking projects support the organization’s scholarship fund that has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors in Angelina County.

Peyton was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. For seven years, he, along with his grandsons and other family members, cooked on-site of the Relay, raising funds in memory of his daughter, Lauralyn.

Peyton loved the outdoors and his favorite past time was going to Chinquapin Hunting Club where, along with dear friends, he loved sitting on the back porch of his cabin or riding through the woods enjoying the beauty that God has provided. Diagnosed 13 years ago with a rare cancer, he fought the good fight with courage, humor and faith.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; grandsons and spouse , Lee Peyton Hilliard, Jameson and Amanda Hilliard; great grandchildren, Parker Neal Hilliard and Annalyn Kay Hilliard, all of Lufkin; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Shan Mathis of Lufkin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sherry and Steve Roper of Lufkin, Martha and Ken Mears of Houston; nephews and nieces, Jim Roper, Jana Roper, Perilyn Patel, Kirk Mathis and Todd Mathis; a number of great nephews and nieces; and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lauralyn M. Hilliard.

Pallbearers will be Mike Albritton, Mike Windsor, Joe Thigpen, J.E. Driskell, Jerry Fuller and Clay Dark.

Honorary pallbearers are the members of The Lufkin Roundtable.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lauralyn M. Hilliard Scholarship Fund in care of Lufkin High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 150836, Lufkin, Texas 75915; Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Ave., Lufkin, Texas 75904; the First United Methodist Church, 805 E. Denman Ave., Lufkin, Texas 75901; or a charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors