Linda Sue Evans Mathis
A memorial service for Lynda Sue Evans Mathis, 80, will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1016 Hwy 346, Pelican, Louisiana. Visitation and vigil will be held on Monday, June 24, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. led by Robin Mathis. Family and friends are invited to share stories and keep Lynda company through the night leading up to the service. Officiating the service will be Father Timothy Hurd of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Many.
Lynda passed away peacefully after a brief illness on June 15, 2024, surrounded by her family at her beloved camp overlooking Toledo Bend Reservoir. She was born on May 3, 1944, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the first child of Floyd Newton Evans, Jr. and Bernice Geneva Flores. Early in her life, she lived in Hawaii while her father served in the US Air Force during and after WWII, a place she fondly remembered as an island paradise. Once her father completed his service, the young family moved to Louisiana and became dairy farmers. Lynda and her mother would cook big meals from scratch for her father, brothers, and extended family, they worked the dairy, and she helped tend the family garden, farm, and house. She was also a second mother to her younger siblings until she left home to get married. She was industrious, smart, and a stellar student, winning awards for academics, cooking, and sewing.
At Mansfield High School, she met the love of her life, Michael Clark Mathis. They married on July 22, 1961, and enjoyed 53 years together until his death in 2014. They enjoyed a large, boisterous family life, with seven children and an open-door policy for anyone in need. Along with her husband, Lynda loved the outdoors and led many family camping trips, cooking big, delicious meals with anything her husband and children would catch and clean. As a young mother, Lynda attended college at Northwestern State University with her mother and sister, Becky, who all became registered nurses. Her young family lived in Mansfield until 1975, then moved to Shreveport, where she enjoyed a long career in healthcare as a registered nurse, health facility inspector, business owner, and long-term care consultant in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Nevada.
Lynda was the bedrock of her family and supported her husband and children through many of life’s challenges. With her love and guidance, Michael overcame partial blindness, was a Friend of Bill’s for 33 years, and built a career in long term health care administration. She always welcomed her children and others in her family to take refuge at her home and camp whenever needed. In 2008, Lynda and Michael “retired” to lake life, although she continued to work as a nurse and consultant until her stroke on April 5. Lynda was absolutely devoted to her family, and she was the foundation for her husband and children through all the twists and turns of life. She will always be lovingly remembered as the matriarch for her large extended family. Generations of nieces, nephews, and grandchildren lovingly knew her as Mimi, and spent time with her during lake visits and the annual family beach trip.
Lynda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter, Cynthia Ann Mathis, and her brother-in-law and his wife, James (Jim) Carol Mathis and Janice (Jan) Richard. She is survived by her children, Marjorie Christine Mathis, Daniel Evans Mathis (Lucia), Elizabeth Kathleen Goerner (Philip), Marilyn Carol Asher (Frank), Michael Stuart Mathis (Alyson), Stephen Patrick Mathis, Rosemary Alice Mathis, 11 grandchildren, Erin, Justin, Elise, Jared, Katelyn, Madison, Taylor, Cameron, Evan, Alex, and William, and 7 great-grandchildren, Michael, Elianna, Christina, Griffin, Caspian, Rowan, and Aeson, and her brotherin- law and his wife, Robin Eugene Mathis and Linda LeBlanc. She is also survived by her siblings, Andrew Flores Evans (Marilyn), Paul Keith Evans (Jan), Dennis Anthony Evans (Carol), Michael Stuart Evans (Peggy), Gary Vincent Evans, Mary Catherine Golden (Roger), Rebecca Anne Evans, Jeffrey Louis Evans, Theresa Denise Griffiths (Derek), Patricia Elaine Koch (Mike), John Stephen Evans (Lora), Angela Kay Evans (John Morrison), and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Honoring Lynda as pallbearers will be her sons Daniel Mathis, Stuart Mathis, and Stephen Mathis, and grandsons Evan Mathis, Alex Mathis, and William Mathis.
Flowers may be sent to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1016 Hwy 342, Pelican, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Shriner’s Hospital or to the charity of your choice in her name.
