Gordon Dale Mathis

May 18, 1961 - January 1, 2025

Suffolk, Virginia - Beloved husband, father, pawpaw, son, brother, uncle, friend Gordon "Dale" Mathis moved on from this world January 1st, 2025, at his home in Suffolk, Virginia. He was born the first of six children to Frederick Riley (deceased) and Joan Fox Mathis in Charlotte, NC where he resided until he embarked on his long Naval career at age 18.

Dale attended and graduated basic training in 1979 from the Naval Training Center and Basic Electricity/Electronics School in Orlando, Florida then boarded his first ship, The USS Barney (1980-1983) as a graduate of the US Gunner's Mate "A" School and MK 42 Gun Mount "C" School. After leaving the USS Barney, he completed MK 45 Gun Mount School in the Great Lakes, Illinois. He went on to serve our country aboard the USS Scott (1985-1986), USS Arleigh Burke (1990-1994), USS Moosbrugger (1994-1996), and USS Winston Churchill (1999-2003). He also served as a Naval Company Commander in the Great Lakes, Physical Security Weapons Instructor in Groton, Connecticut and Small Arms Instructor in San Antonio, Texas. While serving, Dale also obtained a bachelor's degree of science (1998), Masters of Art (1999) and Masters of Business Administration (2010). He completed his official and impressive Naval career by retiring in 2003 but continued to serve our country as a civilian on military projects as a Combat System Navy Technical Representative on the NAVSEA AEGIS Modernization Team.

While in the Great Lakes, Dale met his forever and cherished love, Laura Ann Bovyn. His southern charm - and persistence - eventually won over this big city Midwesterner and they were married Feb. 9th, 1985, at St. Francis Xavier Church in her hometown Chicago, Il. This one-of-a-kind love affair produced two sons, Joshua Paul Mathis and Jeremy Brent Mathis as well as one granddaughter Clara Jean Mathis, daughter McKayla Owen - Josh's love and fur babies Jake, Toby, Cash and Charlotte. He was beyond proud to be their father, pops and pawpaw. Josh and Jeremy embody the love of family and open hospitality they so warmly modeled through the years. Like his dad, Dale never met a stranger and made each person feel special as he listened intently and encouraged the best. He and Laura opened their home and hearts to many through the years, giving many cherished memories of his infectious laugh and love for life.

Everyone that knew Dale knew of his love for music which he inherited from his maternal grandfather, James Fox. He began playing the saxophone in junior high before moving to drums which stayed his passion until the end. Dale played in local bands as well as sat in with a jazz band in Japan. There was not a day that went by that Dale wasn't listening or playing music.

Dale is survived by his mother, Joan Fox Mathis, wife of 40 years, Laura Ann Bovyn Mathis, sons Joshua Paul Mathis (McKayla) and Jeremy Brent Mathis, grand-daughter Clara Jean Mathis, brothers Danny Lee and Mark Henry Mathis, sisters Dessie Mathis Putnam (Mark), Denise Mathis (Gary), Sonya Mathis Yeomans (Russell), sister-in-laws Cynthia Beck and Paula Mellon (Marty), brother-in-laws Michael Bovyn (Kathy), Gregory Bovyn (Cheryl), Glen Bovyn (Cheri), and Timothy Bovyn (Marie) as well as a prolific list of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In this life, Dale never stopped moving and his spirit will move forward with all that were honored to know him.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Charlotte Observer from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Gordon Mathis

Sponsored by The Charlotte Observer.

3 Entries

SAMY

August 11, 2025

A year ago today we were sitting by the pool listening to music and celebrating daddy's birthday. Little did I know this would be the last time Rileigh would spend time with you or we'd celebrate daddy's birthday on this earth together. Rileigh woke this morning and told me "I saw Uncle Dale in my dreams". She had no idea what today was.... so I choose to believe it's another sign you are still with us. I love you Dale and will never ever ever not think of you! Thanks for being my brother and friend! I miss you so much! Rock on Big Dog!

Clara Mathis

July 23, 2025

Hey paw paw!!! Been awhile it´s wendsday/July/ 23/ 2025 and it´s 12:07 no not pm. It´s 12:07 am I just can´t sleep and I think it´s time I try to talk to you. Yea I know. Awhile. I never really tried talking to you for one reason.You know what grief is? Nah nvm I shouldn´t ask you you´re older than me people at least experience grief once in their life. i´ve definitely experienced more in my life than some older people than me.Its been hectic in life since I was 8 and I don´t need to explain it because you know.See I never cried once when I went to a funeral. Isn´t that crazy huh?!?! Not even at pop pops. And not even at yours.I got to your funeral late for one reason. I just didn´t want to see you I couldn´t face seeing u again because of two days before the funeral. But I never showed emotion I never cried. I sat in the back with Rando people I didn´t know with aunty Jordan and I feel like I was the one comforting Aunty Jordan. Aunty Jordan was doing a good job trying to comfort me. She couldn´t see my emotions, but she knew what was going on inside and by the way there was a lot of people at your funeral. And when I mean a lot, I mean a lot do you know a lot of people that loved you that never saw you every day! Hey even my therapist came to ur funeral and she never knew you! After the funeral and a couple months later I just never feel right just never felt happy. Grief is a big word in my life because that´s mostly what I experienced in life. Do you think my grief will go away someday. Oh I´m still playing music I play viola now! Did u know I like photography a lot? Well, now you do! I don´t know what I´m gonna major in though when I go to college, I don´t know we´ll find out. Oh! I´m trying to start a band me and my friend Layla are gonna play electric guitar. My friend BRENDA is gonna sing. My friend Aaliyah is gonna play the base in my friend. Elizabeth is gonna play drums and we were thinking about doing it where you played with your band in your garage I named our band Toxic Remnants isn´t it kind of good?! oh, and also me and my friend Elizabeth had a sleepover at you and gram grams house and we played the drums a lot. It was really fun. I´ve also been riding horses a lot. I did two weeks of camp this summer and I learned a lot. I hope I can become a barn helper someday but I think that´s all the updates right now. And I still miss ur smile and ur stinky sweaty cologne, smelling hats that I love.

-Love your granddaughter and ur favorite granddaughter!´n (only granddaughter) Clara

P.S. The fur babies say hi!!

Samy

February 12, 2025

How can life ever be the same? Did you know how much I loved, respected and adored you my big brother? I will cherish the way you made me feel everytime I walked in a room where you were and knew i was about to receive the most generous and full embrace only you could give! There's a huge hole you and dad left that will never be filled.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results