James “Jim” Knox Mathews

A full and adventure filled life came to a close on Tuesday, July 29th when Jim Mathews said goodbye to his earthly home.

Jim was a life-long resident of Jacksonville, born on June 20, 1950 and grew up on the Northside. Jim graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1968 where he played varsity football. He served in the Naval Reserves and followed with a career of 35+ years with the Bell Telephone companies, retiring several times after being recruited back into service.

Jim met and married a fellow Bell employee, Barbara Jean, the love of his life, a perfectly matched mate with so many of the same interests. They were married in May of 1980 and spent their life together until her passing in October 2023. Jim was affectionally knows as “Duckie” to Barbara.

Jim and Barbara loved boating on their vessel named Brain Damage and were often found at Talbot Island or Bird Island where they once garnered the attention of a law enforcement helicopter when they innocently beached during Bird mating season. They could also be found skiing on Black Creek or celebrating at the “Redneck Riviera” and frequenting the Jacksonville Landing with boating friends. There were many trips by boat to Silver Glen, spending the night in Astor Florida and dining at the Blackwater Inn.

Jim and Barbara loved traveling to Gatlinburg Tennessee in the fall, frequenting their favorite pancake restaurant while proudly sporting Gator attire in enemy territory. Besides being Gator fans attending football and baseball games, they were original Jaguar season ticket holders traveling by boat with neighbors to the games. They were also avid NASCAR fans attending races at different venues. After retirement they traveled multiple times across the USA, visiting many sites on their bucket list.

They fulfilled a dream by purchasing a ‘fixer upper” home on Pottsburg Creek where you could find Jim remodeling and working on their home or out fishing with his brother. Jim’s tool inventory, knowledge and skills were put to good use and you will find he always over engineered anything he built. He also bought and restored a Toyota Land Cruiser to pristine condition with a bright yellow & red paint.  Jim was instrumental in leading the weekly neighborhood gatherings known as Wren Road Happy Hour that sometimes included golf cart races and a little imbibing. Many stories of fun times started with “well if you can believe it, we might have been drinking at the time…” In addition to these, Friday nights were for eating at neighborhood restaurants like Motoga’s and Campeche Bay, where the real last names for bills were listed as A, B, C, D and E. Jim was D, not M. Can you guess why?

Family was very important and they hosted many holiday feasts. They would also host fish fries using fish Jim caught and fed a grateful neighborhood. Christmas time resulted in major neighborhood lighting wars and Jim was constantly adding additional decorations. Jim also participated in “decorating” neighbor’s homes when his gators went against their rival sports teams. His best landscape remodel was done in jest using plastic flamingos, a plastic pool with a garden hose fountain and lounge chairs to the chagrin of a neighbor that was having a professional landscape done.

His very old red truck, so named Big Red, had a massive wench on the front that was used frequently to help neighbors with heavy tasks. Jim got a big kick out of a neighbor’s young daughter who asked “where’s the window button?” on the truck, not aware of what a crank was. Many a house on Wren Road was remodeled with Jim’s help and his many tools. Jim was often the first one to show up and the last one to leave. He would end up in neighbor pools to cool off and enjoy soaking in their hot tubs in the evening, prompting him to purchase the largest one on the market for his own with more jets than one could count.  He also had a back porch workout center, always making sure to keep physically strong while watching his outdoor TV or listening to his outdoor stereo system playing his favorite bands like Fleetwood Mac or Brooks and Dunn. Jim was always coming up with new inspirations and invented TV on a TV on a TV in his living room using his designed support pole so he could watch multiple shows or sporting events at one time. You could always find Jim out in the neighborhood visiting friends.

When first Jim’s mother then Barbara’s elderly father needed care, they made accommodations bringing both into their home and caring for them through their lives. Jim then cared for Barbara when her health declined. Jim’s care and dedication reaffirmed his compassion for helping everybody he could. His nephew Jeremy became Jim’s roommate when Jim’s health declined. Jim meticulously documented important papers and notes for his family. Jim still enjoyed his favorite pastime of weekly breakfasts, lunches and early dinner outings with friends and neighbors at his chosen restaurants. Jim kept up with his retiree Bell family attending monthly breakfast outings as well.

Jim was predeceased by his beloved Barbara, his father and mother, Charles R and Martha Jean Mathews, his sister April Killingsworth and his nephew Jerry. He is survived by his brother Charles and wife Joann, his niece and nephews Jeremy, Rusty, Amanda, and Marcus and many great nieces and nephews. Jim also leaves behind so many close friends, former bell coworkers and neighbors, who miss him every day.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 30th at 10:00am for family and close friends, in the Evergreen Cemetery and Funeral Home Chapel. 4535 Main Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32206 located under the bell tower. Pastor Sonny Stroud from First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville will be officiating. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory – (904) 353-3649.