D. Cleatus Mathis, age 77, of Harrison, went home to meet her parents, Brice and Anna (Smithson) Blair on Friday, September 15, 2023.  She was a Baptist.

Cleatus was the 8th child of Brice and Anna, born August 2, 1946 at Marsena, Arkansas, near Snowball.  After going to Snowball School for 10 years, she graduated from Harrison High School in 1964.  She soon met and married the love of her life and soulmate, Burl (Bunny) Mathis, Jr.  Together they had two sons, Rodney (Vicki) Mathis and Dolph (Jana) Mathis; one stepdaughter, Robin (Kenneth) Eubanks; four grandchildren, Ashley (Jesse) Cooper, Matthew (Seirra) Mathis, Lacy Mathis, and Hailey Mathis; three step grandchildren, Hannah, Susanna, and Joseph Denny; three great grandchildren, Alya and Zach Mathis, and Scarlett Cooper; and several step great grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren were the lights of her life.

She is also survived by two sisters, Allie Jackson and Elbertia Jones, both of Harrison; and two special nieces, Brenda and Jennie. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, Thaddeus Smithson, and siblings, John Alton Blair, Elton "Slim" Blair, Brice Albert Blair, and Vertie Gregory.

Cleatus worked several jobs, starting at Oberman, that would later become Levi's in 1964 for 65¢ an hour, then on to Walmart, helping them move from Younes Shopping Center to their new location by Country Mart. Her long career as a Dietary Director began in the lunchroom at Valley Springs School, then moved on to Hilltop Nursing Home and earned her degree to be a Dietary Manager.  From there, she worked at Yellville Nursing Home, and became certified, which qualified her to be a nutrition technician.  This would ultimately lead her to being hired by Sylvia Kilgore and Brenda Hickman at NARMC, where she worked for several years.

Services will be private.

In her memory, please consider a donation to the kids backpack meals at Children's Charity Ministry, PO Box 576, Harrison, AR 72602.

Arrangements under the direction of Coffman Funeral Home of Harrison.