Magara Mathis

Magara Lee Roberts Mathis passed to her eternal home on March, 8, 2021, at the age of 99 years, 8 months, and 12 days.  She was born in Seagoville, Texas, on June 24, 1921, to George S. Roberts and Nellie Deen Young Roberts. She lived in the Seagoville and Combine, Texas, area until moving to Caldwell, Texas, at the age of 82.

Visitation for Magara will be on Thursday, March 11 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at First Community Church of Crandall in Crandall, TX.  Services following at 1:30 pm.

She is survived by her daughter, Saundra Lanier Pinter and husband Michael D. Pinter, her daughter-in-law Tess Hebert Lanier. Four grandsons: Michael Christopher Pinter and wife Staci, Ronald Wayne Pinter and fiancée Gentri, Ryan Robert Lanier, Billy Marcell Lanier and wife Michelle. Eleven great-grandchildren: Ashley Pinter Coston, Sarah Pinter Stephens and husband Trey, McKalyn Pinter, Andrew Pinter, Nichole Pinter Walker and husband Ty, Wayne Pinter, Travis Pinter, Hailee Lanier Alexander and husband Kyle, Colton Lanier, Ty Lanier, and Jaseck Roche. Four great-great-grandchildren: Lainey Stephens, Colby Coston, Kamryn Coston, and Emersynn Stephens.  As well as many other family members and friends.

Magara was preceded in death by her parents, her husband James Lloyd Mathis, her son Robert Wayne Lanier, her sister Imogene Roberts Lanier, her brothers Lennie B. Roberts, Sr. and George P. Roberts.

Magara loved to recall memories of many happy times and stories of rural life during her childhood in Seagoville and Combine, Texas. She attended school in Seagoville and was baptized as a young girl at Point View Baptist Church in Combine.

Magara was twenty years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  She served her country during World War II by helping to build fuel tanks for P-51 Mustang fighter planes and working for Thrift Packing Company that provided K-Rations for the military. Along with others of America’s greatest generation she suffered many heartbreaks and hardships. She also enjoyed good times working at the ice rink in Dallas as an usherette for hockey games and enjoyed dancing and socializing with her friends.

Magara married Marcell J. Lanier on December 7, 1946.  Her two children, Robert and Saundra, were born in the next several years.  While raising her children she enjoyed being a homemaker, sewing, school activities with her children, and working in the PTA.  She is remembered fondly by many of her children’s schoolmates for her playfulness and fun activities together.

She also enjoyed countless happy times with her nieces and nephews who knew her as “Aunt Gary”.  Many family activities also included her beloved family dog “Poncho”.

Magara’s hobbies included bowling in a women’s league for years and playing golf at the local country clubs. She had a weekly appointment at the hair salon that was rarely missed and continued throughout her life.

When the telephone became available to households of her generation she found a new life-long passion.  Talking on the telephone.

Magara sold Avon for several years and later went to work for Sears Roebuck and Company where she worked for more than 20 years.

In the late 1960’s she became a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Seagoville where she served as the church clerk for a number of years and also as a sponsor for youth activities.

Magara’s four grandsons were born during the 1970’s.  She loved to spend time with them.  She was never without a number of photos to show you or a few amazing stories of their accomplishments to share. They were her pride and joy.

She married James Lloyd (Jim) Mathis on March 24, 1983. They spent many happy years together sharing the morning paper, watching Ranger baseball and Cowboy games on TV. They attended church together at the First Baptist Church in Seagoville where Magara became a member.

Magara moved to Caldwell, Texas, in 2013, at the age of 82, to live near her daughter.  She enjoyed her new home and visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  The births of her great-great-grandchildren allowed her the joy of being the matriarch of five generations. Visits from family and friends brought good times Magara’s way.  She spent many annual vacations with several of her cousins.  Some took her on travels across the entire United States sightseeing and visiting other relatives.  Some were spent just laughing, talking, and playing Skip-Bo until the wee hours of the morning.

Magara enjoyed being mothers-in-law together with Mike’s mother, Jean Pinter, at the Pinter compound where they each had homes. They enjoyed watching soap operas, baseball games, and always loved cheering for the Dallas Cowboys together.

Magara became a resident of Burleson St. Joseph Manor in Caldwell at the age of 92. She made many new friends there and enjoyed bingo, puzzles, and crafting.

During her time there she still enjoyed her life-long passion of talking on the telephone!

Memorials maybe made to the First Community Church of Crandall in Crandall, TX., or a church of your choosing.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Homes, Caldwell, Texas.