Jean Mattern Williams

Published 1:08 pm Monday, January 8, 2018

Jean Mattern Williams, 91, of Columbus, N.C., died January 6, 2018. She was the daughter of Ivan Bingham Mattern and Emma Elizabeth Stutzman Mattern of Johnstown, Pa. Jean and her husband Bill moved to Tryon Estates in 2009 from Fairfield Bay, Arkansas.

Jean loved music. She sang in a church choir from the age of 3. She was an active member of Presbyterian churches in every place she lived. Most recently, she was a member of Tryon Presbyterian Church.

Jean never met a stranger. She always saw joy in living and never complained. She was devoted to her friends and family.

After graduating from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as an RN, she worked at Lee Memorial Hospital in Johnstown, Pa. She later trained as an EMT.

While living in Woodside, Calif. she was active in the Children’s Home Society, Woodside Elementary School PTA, and participated in the community theater, singing, dancing and making costumes.

She took up tennis in midlife and played avidly, many times a week. She loved watching national and international tennis on television.

After retiring to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, Jean and Bill worked one day per week for 15 years as volunteers for the rescue squad. Bill drove the ambulance and Jean worked as the EMT.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years William B. Williams and her sister Shirley Griffith Sabatino.

Surviving family includes daughter, Cathy Berlin of Tryon, N.C., son Bill (Bid) Williams of Columbus, N.C. and grandson, Bryan Williams of Brevard, N.C.

A family memorial will be held at later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in her name be made to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, 134 White Dr., Columbus, NC 28722; Hospice of Rutherford County, 374 Hudlow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043; or Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Rd., Columbus, NC 28782.

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory
Tryon, N.C.