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Note: Mattie Jim Eulogy Mattie Jim DeVore was born in Boswell, Oklahoma on December 1, 1914 one of fifteen children born to Carl and Flossie Michael. She moved with her parents to the Imperial Valley when she was a child. Albert and Mattie were married in 1942 and they had two sons Robert and Jim. Robert and his wife Cathy had four children, Angela, Jennifer, Robert and Theresa. Jim and Susan DeVore gave her two grandchildren. Reilly and Siobhan. She has three great grand children Brittany, Matthew and Ian. Her husband Albert and her son Robert preceded her in death. Her two sisters Mickey and Sue are with us today. She attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1936 as a Registered Nurse and received her Bachelors Degree from San Diego State in 1968. She worked as a surgical nurse at the county hospital and as the personal Surgical Nurse of Dr. House. She worked as the office nurse for both Dr. Zavala and Dr. Worthman. She served as the Head Nurse for the Imperial County Office of Education until she retired in 1960. She was a member of the California Retired Teachers Association. the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Mercy College of Nursing Alumnae, Imperial County Historical Society, Women's Ten Thousand Club of El Centro, the American Institute for Foreign Study and the American Association of Retired Persons. In 1987 she won the American Lung Association's Leadership Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service for both Imperial and San Diego Counties. She was named 1995 Woman of the Year for the California Legislative Assembly. Mattie spoke four languages in addition to English. These were French, Spanish, Russian some German. Traveling with Mattie was a delight; travels took her to most of the European Countries and Russia. On tours, Mattie guided her friends through countless foreign menus and situations. She had an active ever-searching mind and enjoyed learning about art, history and culture. And in an effort to not let technology pass her by, Mattie took up the computer just the last few years. Above all, Mattie was a loving and caring individual. Her husband, sons and grandchildren were always on her mind and in her conversation. Her son Jim told me that she rigged up a sort of pitching trajectory program with string in the back yard in order to teach him how to pitch, She researched all this and he became a good pitcher! Jim also says she helped him with algebra, phonics and reading and patiently tutored his friends in algebra as well. Mattie encouraged her boys to play sports in spite of their asthma. As a nurse, she was caring, thoughtful and had a wonderful touch with her patients. One doctor called her "the only angel nurse I ever knew". She reached many students and patients with her devoted gentle ways and constantly searched for solutions to make their lives better, If you needed information on a disease or medical problem Mattie's personal library had the most up-to-date pamphlet about the subject. Mattie carried herself with confidence and grace. The secret to Mattie was a strong prayer life and an abiding faith in Jesus Christ. She loved her church and her many friends in this church of St. Peter and Paul. She was a member of the vestry and the cursillo community. She cared passionately for causes such as lung disease and cancer and particularly championed the problems of abused and neglected children. In recent years she faced illness and failing health with great courage. In spite of pain and suffering she brought great joy to her friends and encouragement in all good works. She enjoyed being with her host of friends. We all watched her take charge of her situation with great dignity and spirit. Mattie Jim DeVore is I think one of the most outstanding women I have ever known. We will all miss her but never forget the joy she gave us in the way she lived her life.
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