Joyce Aileen Taylor Mathis

Mrs. Joyce Aileen Taylor Mathis, age 77 of Middleton, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday morning, February 24, 2015 at Pine Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Bolivar.

Mrs. Mathis was born in Ripley Tennessee January 24, 1938 to the late Dewey and Effie Arwood. She was raised in the Ripley-Halls area of Tennessee, but lived most all of her life in Hardeman County. On February 3, 1997, she was united in marriage to Mr. James David Mathis, who survives. She worked in assembly for Thyssen-Krupp Elevators from 1973 to 2000, at which point she retired, though she continued to work there as a security guard. She enjoyed riding four-wheelers, dogs, horses, music, jigsaw puzzles, flowers, playing cards and drinking sweet tea.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Billy Joe Hodge, Jr. of Milan, and Tony Hodge and wife Becky of Middleton, Anita Wyman and husband Dale of Middleton, and David Taylor and wife Gail of Middleton; sister, Jean Howell and husband Eugene of Batesville, Mississippi; brother, Sonny Arwood and wife Reba of Ripley, Tennessee; grandchildren, Chris Hodge, Joshua Wyman, Stephanie Taylor, Jessica Taylor, Ashley Wyman and Zachary Wyman; and great-grandchildren, Aidan Wyman and Colton Wyman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as a sister, Louise Hill of Memphis.

Charitable contributions made in memory of Mrs. Mathis may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate).