Raymond "Jim" Burdette Mather, 85

Raymond "Jim" Burdette Mather, 85, of Kennard, died Monday, February 11, 2013, at the VA Hospital in Omaha.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, February 15, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m.Thursday with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be 12:30 p.m. Friday in Oak Hill Cemetery in Plattsmouth.

Raymond "Jim" Burdette Mather was born December 26, 1927, to Ervin and Elva (Hickock) Mather.

He grew up in the Plattsmouth area and made a living fishing on the river as a boy.

He accomplished many things in his life. He learned how to fly small planes, and earned his pilot’s license. He was a proud World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He married Nina Esther Freeman on December 25, 1948.

One of his favorite stories was about the day they got married and there was a terrible snowstorm and they were stranded in it. Their wedding night was spent by Mrs. Mather sitting on his feet to keep them warm. Fortunately, at daybreak they realized they were at the end of a driveway and an elderly couple made them breakfast and helped them get their car out of a snowbank.

As a young man, he worked for the Corp of Engineers. Later in life, he owned and operated a sawmill before selling it and going to work for Kelly Ryan in Blair.

He enjoyed fishing and being on the river, reminiscing and talking about the past, sometimes laughing so hard he could hardly finish his story.

Mr. Mather never knew a stranger and cherished the many friendships he had made throughout his life.

He was very proud that all his sons followed in his footsteps by serving in the military, and several grandsons are now serving or have served.

He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Rex Flint of Little Sioux, Iowa, and Chris and Tom Moore of Dakota City; sons and daughters-in-law, Don of Kodiak, Alaska, Jim and Teresa of Prague and Mike and Cindy of Camano Island, Wash.; 22 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and a beloved cat, Cocoa.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Nina; son, Boyd; and twin grandsons, Jeb and Josh.