Ralph Mattingly

Ralph Mattingly was born July 2, 1938 in Denison, Texas, to Guy Ralph Mattingly and Ina Mae (Winnett) Mattingly. Ralph was united with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018.

Friends and family will gather to celebrate his life on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 1 p.m., at Dannel Funeral Home, 302 S. Walnut, Sherman, Texas. Interment will follow at West Hill Cemetery in Sherman. Family visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 2, from noon until 1 p.m., at Dannel Funeral Home.

Ralph attended school at Lemon Hill Grade School in Achille, Okla. He graduated from Achille High School as valedictorian on April 12, 1957. He attended college at SOSU in Durant, Okla. He played basketball for Coach Bloomer Sullivan and finished his basketball career at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Ralph served three years in the U.S. Army in Germany on the East/West Border, and also as a Master Sergeant in the Reserves, eventually obtaining the rank of Captain.

He married Eva Gail Lambert in 1961. They had two children, Gail Lynn Mattingly and Russell Lane Mattingly. He was a faithful member of Western Heights Church of Christ in Sherman, Texas. He was employed by John Mansville Pipe Company for five years as a shift manager. He was an insurance agent for Shield of Shelter Insurance from 1969 until 1998 in Durant, Okla., and Nevada, Mo. He won many trips, state and national awards. Ralph was also named “Man of the Year” by the Nevada, Mo., Jaycees and he was instrumental in establishing the Vernon County Missouri Health Department.

Ralph had many hobbies, including dedicating his adult life to community, church, and veterans volunteer services. He had a deep passion for children’s athletics and junior and senior baseball and basketball leagues. He also coached square dancing, spending 18 years calling square dances with Ray and Cecilia Smith and many others. He had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at an OKC Royals game. He enjoyed playing dominos in tournaments all throughout Oklahoma as a member of the Calera Oklahoma Shufflers Domino Club, which includes four world champion players. Ralph enjoyed singing karaoke and he knew more than 300 songs. He was a veteran and a life time member of VFW Post 2772 in Sherman.

He married Jane Branch Mattingly in 2009 and they enjoyed traveling, especially going on cruises and road trips.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jane “Sunshine” Mattingly, of Sherman; daughter, Gail Lynn Mattingly, of Euless; son, Russel Lane Mattingly, of Yukon, Okla.; sister, Donna Kaye Bowen and husband, Tommy, of Calera, Okla.; nephews and nieces, Ricky and Treva Mattingly, Brian Mattingly, Deborah Mattingly, and Dawn Bennett and husband, Grant, of North Carolina; grandson, Clifton Reynolds, of Dallas; and daughter-in-law, Laura Shainker and husband, Ken, of North Richland Hills, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Mattingly, Brian Mattingly, Shawn Bowen, Clifton Reynolds, Ken Shainker, and Joel Camp. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of VFW Post 2772 in Sherman and Calera Oklahoma Shufflers Domino Club.

Military honors will be accorded by VFW Post 2772 in Sherman.

In addition to flowers being sent to Dannel Funeral Home, memorial contributions may be made in Ralph’s name to VFW Post 2772 in Sherman, or to the charity of donor’s choice.

You may sign the online guestbook at www.Dannelfuneralhome.com.