Mrs. Matheny ~ F-Faculty
Arrived ~ 10/26/1926
Departed ~ 7/10/2011
Lovingly submitted by Vincent Bennett ’67
Mrs. Marie Matheny was a chemistry teacher at ISB. She passed on in 2011. I became a Chemical Engineer because of her influence. I had reconnected with her in 2009. I would call her every 3-4 months. Ironically, I called one Monday morning and her son answered. She had a massive stroke the night before and died. Following is her obituary.
Matheny, Marie S. – Born October 26, 1926, passed away suddenly on July 10, 2011 of a massive stroke.
Born and raised in Ohio, Marie was the first in her family to attend college, the first woman in her college to graduate with a chemistry degree and the first woman chemist at Sylvania in the ‘50’s. Scientist she was, going on to teach science, math and chemistry, she was also an astrologer with an avid interest in people and their stories.
Married for 63 years to Raymond Matheny, they began as pen pals during WWII and traveled the world together, following Ray’s career from Ohio to Montana, to Oregon, to California, to Thailand to Ethiopia to Hawaii to Virginia to Maryland, and returning to California. In each place they called home, Marie taught the sciences and ended her career as the Chemistry Lab Manager for American University in Washington, D.C. Retired for almost 20 years.
Marie was always busy with her projects, crocheting, studying astrology, organizing a lifetime of slides, listening to audio books, and making friends with all she came in contact with. She became the caretaker for her husband, Ray who became blind in 2006.
She was very close to and proud of her children and their families: Dawn Matheny (daughter) and Milton Woolley, (grandchildren Tara and Peter, and their father Dr. Ron Schuster); Dr. Theo Matheny (son) and Ellen from Washington state; and Jim Matheny (son) and Yvonne from Kentucky.
Because of her fierce, loving, inquisitive spirit, her indomitable will and strength, her warm, nurturing and supportive self, she leaves a hole in the hearts of all who knew her.
A service honoring and celebrating her life was held on Sunday, July 17 2011 at 2:00 pm at Daniels Chapel of the Roses on 1225 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. All who knew her were invited.
Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories, and tributes to isbeings at gmail dot com or visit us on Facebook at ISBeings