James B. Mattingly Obituary (1936

James Bertrand (Jim) Mattingly of rural Lacon, Illinois passed away peacefully in St. Clare Hospital, Princton Illinois November 10, 2024 at 2:15 pm after a brief hospital stay due to complications of Dementia. Jim was born July 8 1936,in Saratoga Township Marshall County Illinois the 11th child of Hubert and Susan V.( Buckler) Mattingly. Jim spent all of his younger days in Marshall County living on farms and helping his family with all the many jobs that a young farm boy is required to learn and do.. His passion for horses started at a young age when a neighbor loaned him a pony to ride and care for. Jim took his many sisters on some hair raising pony and cart trips down the dirt and gravel roads of Whitefield township. Jim and his family eventually moved to a farm that was in the Sparland School District. Jim was thrilled with this, because they had a basketball and baseball team!! During his 8th grade year there he met his future sweetheart and wife, Mary Jane Finnegan and they were married in 1956. Jim had signed up for early draft and was eventually stationed in Fort Louis Washington. Jim and Mary Jane married and spent their first months of marriage in the Fort Louis, Tacoma Washington area. They came home from army duty thinking of setting up a farm life. But life had different plans for them. Jim secured a job with BF Goodrich, the new chemical plant that had just been built in Henry. They bought a house in Henry and there raised their family. Jim continued his education with the GI Bill and graduation from Illinois Central College with a degree in business. This helped him move up the ladder at BF Goodrich and eventually secured a position in middle management. Jim was very community minded and was one of the founding members of the Henry JC’s. As part of his military service he joined the Henry Legion Post 323. He served as commander in 1983 and continued for many years as Chairman of the July 4th fireworks committee. He was a member of St. Mary’s Parish for many years and also served as trustee. The farm kept calling those two farm kids back and in the early 1970’s they bought Apple Nob Farm and moved their 4 children and two horses to start a new farm adventure. Eventually Angus cattle were added and of course more horses. Jim had love of all breeds…Quarter, Appaloosa, Arabians and his final love, Thoroughbreds. He was a fearless rider and found that in the sport of Polo he was able to take those thoroughbreds on wild and fast rides on the field as part of the game. He played polo for 10 years and enjoyed every minute until his sight became a problem. Jim never complained, he dealt with the loss of his sight and dementia, without letting those two problems interfere with his love of his farm and his children and grandchildren. Jim is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Jane, his sons Dustan (Susan) Brent (Teri) Quint and Daughter Holly. Grandchildren are Kelsey (Aaron) Anne, Gavin, Gabrielle (Ryan) Michael, Michaella and Zach (Anne) and 3 Step grandchildren Ryan, Lyndsay, and Calvin and 3 great grandchildren and 2 step grandchildren. His Sister Mary Russell survives along with a host of 56 of his nieces and nephews some still living and some deceased. He was preceded in death by his 14 month old daughter Regina Kaye, his parents and Sisters Virginia, Agnes, Ann, Cecilia, Sue, Polly, Pat and Brothers Hubert and Leon. Services for James Mattingly will be Saturday December 21, 2024, Visitation from 10:00 am to 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Henry. Memorial Mass will follow at 11:00 am Fr. Michael pica will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Henry, Il where full military rites will be accorded by the Henry American Legion. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Church or the Henry American Legion. Calvert & Johnson Memorial Home, Henry is in charge of arrangements.