Mattocks

Jim was born April 6, 1938, in Navasota. He died Feb. 5, 2019, at Focused Care Nursing Facility in Brenham.

Jim attended and graduated from Schertz High School in 1957. In 1959 Jim joined the Air Force and spent his tour of duty in Kansas and Frobisher Island Baffin Bay in Canada’s Northwest Territory. Coincidentally he and his dad were both in the Strategic Air Command and both were stationed in Kansas as airplane mechanics.

After his discharge from the military, he moved to Bryan, Texas, working as a carpenter with his uncle and cousins. In 1965 he moved to Austin continuing in the construction field and beginning his own construction company. On September 3, 1993, Jim married Linda Renck Zoch and they had a great time working together in the business.

Jim retired from business in 2003 and he and Linda moved to Carmine – her home town. They enjoyed retirement and explored his love of traveling by taking many trips, first in a camping trailer pulled by a motorcycle and later in motor homes and RV’s. They also went on multiple riverboat and large ship cruises with their friends.

There weren’t many activities that Jim wouldn’t try. He loved fast cars and bikes, kayaking, sailboats and snow and water skiing. Jim was intrigued by any kind of flying machines and he had a wonderful time flying kites, control line model planes, hang gliders and later he obtained his sport pilot and instructional license and enjoyed flying ultralight trikes. For many years he attended the Oshkosh, Wisconsin air shows. The one flying machine he did not like was the helicopter because it was too slow. Ironically, he made his last flight in one.

Jim will be missed by his blended family and many friends. Surviving him is his wife, Linda Mattocks, sons, Robert Mattocks and his wife, Judie, Eric Mattocks and his wife, Carolyn and stepchildren, Kevin Zoch and Dana Zoch. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Hamric and Nancy Mattocks as well as 11 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren and his companion cat, Simon.

A celebration of Jim’s life was held at the Round Top American Legion Hall on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m.

Contributions in Jim’s name may be made to Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter, 240 Svoboda Lane, La Grange, Texas.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.