Charles Carvel Mathis, III, 85, of Ocala and St. Augustine, FL, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2020, following a long illness. Born on December 4, 1935, he is predeceased by his parents, Charles, Jr. and Mary Mathis.
Charles belonged to the Episcopal faith and he was universally well thought of and noted for his kindness, his ability to put others at ease, and his ability to always complete the New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle in ink pen. He is remembered by many of his friends and relatives as a wonderful mentor and for his wicked sense of humor.
After he graduated Ketterlinus High School in 1953, he attended the University of Florida and then served in the U.S. Army before returning to Gainesville where he continued his education and became an avid race car driver.
In 1978, he moved to Ocala with his family where he owned and operated Mathis Motors auto dealership for over ten years. He retired to St. Augustine to care for his aging mother. He was a lifelong fisherman, a passionate but average golfer, an enthusiastic Florida Gator fan, an exceptional dog whisperer, and enjoyed restoring his parents’ vintage home in his free time when he absolutely had to, and could not be fishing.
Loving husband, father, brother, and friend, he will be deeply missed by his wife of 56 years, Joan Tanner Mathis, his children Charles C. Mathis, IV (Laurel) and Victoria Mathis Sanders (Jamie), his brother Robert K. Mathis, Sr. (Theresa), and sister, Sybil Mathis Patterson (Sandy) as well as several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and many cousins.
A memorial service will be planned at a later date. His ashes will be interred with his parents at the family plot in St. Augustine.