The family of Herbert Oswald Mathis of Klamath Falls, OR announces his passing, and invites all who knew him to remember him here.
What follows is not the whole story, but a thread of it.
Parenthood is the slow work of love. Herbert did it well.
Herbert "Osi" Oswald Mathis, a beloved husband and father, passed away April 30, 2026 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Osi was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina February 12, 1960 to Lonnie and Erika Mathis, and was an army brat that spent his childhood at different duty stations before the family settled in Bonanza, Oregon in 1972. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Teresa, children Anthony, Bekah and Amanda, 13 grandchildren and brothers Lonnie and Jeff and sister Dagmar. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Barbara and Elena.
Osi retired after two decades working as road maintenance for the Oregon Department of Transportation where he worked as a dedicated public servant plowing snow in the winter and spraying weeds in the summer. His family often joked with Osi that they learned more about weeds than they ever wanted to know. Before working for the state he was a truck driver with Mathis Mountain Trucking with his dad and brothers, where he loved open roads and random truck stops, and then as a mechanic for a local potato farm.
He loved supporting his community and seized any opportunity to use his tractor by plowing snow, clearing gravel, or any yard work for local churches, friends and neighbors. His red tractor could be seen driving down the by-pass as his family worried he was going to run out of gas, again.
Staying active was important to Osi. He often traveled the country for vacations to Hawaii with his wife, to see his siblings in Florida and Colorado, and to visit his daughter and go to Oregon Ducks football games. When he was home, he was often at the fields to watch his granddaughter play softball, running several trips to Home Depot for projects his wife or kids had him working on or cuddled on the couch with his dog, Schroeder.
Osi was a loving and helpful person who always helped people in need, never hesitating to support his kids friends pay for their college or crash in his home. On weekends, he was usually at the Klamath Grill talking with the "old guys" at the counter. He was a social person who enjoyed getting to talk to everyone.
There will be a celebration of life for Osi at his home, 7312 Reeder Road, on May 16th at 1:00pm followed by a potluck. Friends and family are welcome to attend and bring food and can reach out to Bekah Mathis at 541-539-5475 with questions.
