Cecil Mattox

Cecil Mattox was born Sept. 5, 1932 on a farmstead near Merna, Nebraska to Everett and Viola (Sells) Mattox.  He graduated from Broken Bow High School in the spring of 1950.  Cecil served in the United States Army for two years as a Sergeant of a motor pool in Korea. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, marrying his sweetheart Shirley Jean Niedt on Sept the 16, 1953.  The two of them had five children; Cheri (Mark) Minchow of South Bend, Nebraska; Brad (Teri) Mattox of Kearney, Nebraska; Rodney Mattox of Rogers, Arkansas; Janell (Tim) Porter of Paola, Kansas; and Carey (Jodi) Mattox of Broken Bow, Nebraska. His grandchildren were the light of his life and he had many to love.  He was lovingly known to them as “Papo” and was always good for a laugh or to share the “pencil trick” with all of the grandchildren as they grew.  He is loved still by the following grandchildren oldest to youngest: Willis Scofield, Gabrielle (Mattox) Turner, Benjamin Porter, Dustin Mattox, Lindsey (Mattox) Booker, Adam Mattox, Vanessa (Minchow) DiBaise, Jacob Porter, Seth Mattox, Trevor Mattox, Natalie Minchow. Ten great grandchildren were blessed to know their Great Grandpa as well:  Ashlyn, Irish, Mack, Ella, Trinity, Bella, Addison, Wyatt, Charleigh, and Rosalyn. Cecil was an avid gardener in the summer months sharing his abundance of produce with friends and neighbors.  He was a patient fisherman and outfished many a family member on the annual fishing trip.  He was a model airplane enthusiast and could be found flying the models that he built and maintained over the years.  He shared his love of antiques with his family and could always be found tinkering away on the items he would find at the numerous auctions and sales he attended. The past year of Cecil’s life was spent at the Brookdale Retirement Living Center in Kearney where he enjoyed all the social activities including jigsaw puzzles, men’s happy hour, and entertaining the residents with his mini remote control indoor helicopter flights. Cecil passed peacefully the morning of February 24th. He was preceded in Death by his parents, Everett and Viola, brothers Lyle and Jack, and sisters Ruby and Mabel, and grandson Brandt. Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Broken Bow or the Shriner’s Hospital Children’s Fund. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday February 28, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with Reverend Mary Jane Gockley officiating.  A visitation will be held on Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 8 :00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary with family receiving friends 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Govier Brothers.