NORWICH – Jacob Joseph Mathey, 101, of Norwich, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Jacob was born Dec. 7, 1909 in Trenary, Mich., the son of Peter John and Dora Smits Mathey, who later moved to West Winfield. He married Doris Eileen Nichols, daughter of Dean and Ethel Sutphen Nichols of Leonardsville, on Aug. 26, 1936 at St. Joseph’s Parish in West Winfield. She passed away after 61 years of marriage on Aug. 9, 1997. They owned and operated a dairy farm on Route 12 near Poolville for many years. Jacob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather. They were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Oxford.
Jacob is survived by two natural children, a daughter Sandra (William Gerald) Mathey Ballard of Norwich and a son Ronald James Mathey of Okeechobee, Fla. and a foster son John Wilson of Mountain Home, Idaho. He was predeceased by their foster daughter Donna Wilson Van Wagner Morse of Albany. Also surviving are his grandchildren Susan (Theodore) Ballard Wilson of Tullahoma, Tenn., William Jacob Ballard, David (Mary Ellen) Gerald Ballard, Pamela (Jamie) Ballard Monica, Ronald (Joyce) Mathey Jr., Robert Mathey, Karen (Bill) Mathey Braunsdorf, Richard Mathey, Rodney Mathey, Kristie Mathey, LaDonna and John, Jr. Wilson and Ted, Patty, Sarah, Laura, John and April Van Wagner. He is also survived by 16 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
Jacob was the fifth from the youngest of twelve children. His youngest brother Peter (Ardes) Mathey is the only one who still survives. Those who have predeceased him are Christine (Alfred) Swanson, Johanna (John) Koenig, Petronella (Edward) Clark, Gertrude (Emile) Jacque, Leonard (Rose) Mathey, Frederick (Eleanor) Mathey, Henry (Mae) Mathey John (Mary) Mathey, Dora (John) Bright and Katherine (Merton) Neal.
Before Jacob moved to his farm near Poolville, he had several occupations. He was a lumber jack in the Adirondacks for several years, was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. and when he retired from farming he went into construction building houses, barns and a medical center in West Winfield with his brothers, Henry and Frederick.
Most recently he has become known for his wood carvings. During his farming years he would often pick up a piece of wood at night after chores and carve a piece of what is now being called American Folk Art. He created many of these pieces during his lifetime. Much to his amazement, the pieces have become very popular. Recently, the Quincy Square Museum in Earlville opened a showing of his carvings.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Jacob will be held on at 11 a.m. Saturday from St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery of Oxford.
Family and friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday prior to the service from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Norwich Roots and Wings, 34-36 Berry St., Norwich, NY 13815. This is a branch of our local Catholic Charities that provides food and other assistance to local people in need.