Chris Janet Mathis

Chris Mathis had an unforgettable laugh that made her stand out in any crowd, no matter the size. If you coaxed one of these from her, you couldn't help but be filled with joy.

Christine Janet Courtright was born to Cal & Mary Courtright of Moses Lake, Wash., on May 12, 1959. She grew up alongside her two older sisters, Caren and Cathy, and her little brother John. She was an adorable child who loved to be center stage. She was creative and inventive and was always telling stories about when she was a "lady." Chris had a stubborn, sassy streak that most everyone who knew her can attest to. She always told stories about digging her heals in and refusing to eat the liver her mom served every Friday night.

Chris was an animal lover all her life. One time when her family was visiting friends, her and her friend stashed a bunny in the family car. When they got home her mom surprisingly let her keep it, and she named him Bucky. Chris was a very talented livestock showman through the years. She so badly wanted to show a steer, but her dad told her if she wanted to show a steer, she first had to win grand champion showing a lamb. So, she went out there and got it done. Her first horse was a pony named Peanuts. If you've ever owned a pony, you won't be surprised that he once got ornery and scraped her off on the low hanging branches in the orchard. And if you knew Chris, you know she got right back on.

Chris cherished her memories with her sister Cathy, hooking up the horse trailer to the family motorhome that her mom had stocked with all their favorite snacks (powdered raspberry filled donuts, strawberry yogurt and Dr. Pepper) and taking off for horse shows all over the state. Over the years, she became a very accomplished horsewoman and won many ribbons on her horse Cowboy. She loved horse jumping, but just as much, she loved being an extra cowhand for her dad and gathering cows in the Colockum near Ellensburg. In the last couple years, she took great joy and pride as her sons ran their own cows in the same hills where she had so many wonderful memories. A Courtright family tradition that Chris always talked so fondly of was their family camping trips to Surprise Lake. They would pack up on horses and mules and camp out for a week or more.

Chris graduated from Moses Lake High School in the spring of 1977. She spent time at both WSU and Whitworth before coming back to Moses Lake where her parents helped her start the Fisherman Bookstore. On August 1, 1981, Chris married Tim Mathis of Royal City. In 1982 they welcomed their first son, Paul T. In 1984 they rang in the new year with the birth of their daughter, Mary Jean. On Mother's Day weekend 1986, she received the gift of her son Calvin Casey, and Independence Day 1988, came in with a bang when Joshua Brand was welcomed to the family.

Tim and Chris raised their kids at Tim's childhood home on the Royal Slope. They ran cows, farmed, taught their kids how to work hard, and started a little league program. They supported their kids in school, sports, and 4-H. Chris dressed her family up as Pilgrims and Indians every Thanksgiving when they were young, made endless pans of tuna noodle casserole, and cinnamon rolls and sausage fondue every Christmas. She helped her kids load up their saddlebags with snacks, toy guns, and bedrolls and sent them out for a day of playing cowboys and Indians with only their faithful steeds, Sunny, Poncho, and Studly for babysitters.

Chris' life took on a whole new meaning August 9, 2007, when she became a grandmother to her first grandchild, Layla. After many, many renditions of 'Old McDonald Had a Farm" Layla gave Chris her grandma name... "with a Nay Nay here and a Nay Nay there". Over the years a total of 15 grandbabies would call her that name, and she loved each of them individually and oh so well. She loved going on vacation with them, cheering them on at wrestling matches and swim meets, attending flag football, softball, soccer, and basketball games. She presented them with flowers at their dance recitals and beamed from the audience as they performed in the high school musical. She was there for all the birthday parties, grandparent's days, brandings, and livestock shows. She even fielded text messages asking for help in a certain livestock judging contest (yes, Timmer, we know that Nay Nay helped you score in the top 10).

In 2015, Chris took a job at Colfax City Hall as the finance director and eventually also became the city administrator, where she finished out her career. She loved her job (most days ☺), and she deeply loved the people she worked with. They became her best friends in this last season of her life. She was described as fierce and sassy and wasn't afraid to let her sarcastic side shine as proven by the hilarious signs displayed on her desk. She was extremely loyal, and she always had the backs of her people. She was recently dubbed, "Queen of the City". We like that.

She was always there, in the delivery room or holding down the fort while we were away. She made sure her family knew they were loved while serving in the military or on the mission field. She was there to wrangle misbehaving kids or cow dogs, sometimes both. Seriously, ask any of her grandkids about "the pinch." She would go with you to check cows or fence, riding along reminiscing while listening to Michael Martin Murphy or Garth Brooks. She loved helping you pick out plants for your flower beds or sharing her wealth of knowledge about anything gardening related. Chris was the kind of mom and grandma that would drop everything to be there for you in your greatest moments of need and your greatest moments of joy. Nothing was more important to her than her family.

Chris lost her battle with lupus on October 20, 2024 in the hospital surrounded by her children.

Chris is preceded in death by her father, John Calvin Courtright; her grandparents Mark and Dorothy White and Clarence and Verginia Courtright; and her brother Timothy Courtright.

She is survived by her children, Paul Mathis (Jacqueline), Mary Jean Inman (Jeremy), Calvin Mathis (Natasha), Joshua Mathis (Laura); her 15 grandchildren, Layla, Mathis, Timothy, Haven, Jackson, Madison, James, Owen, Ella, Johnny, Hudson, Molly, Tripp, Martin and Casey; her mother, Mary Courtright; her siblings, Caren Courtright, Cathy Courtright, John Courtright (Susie); 17 nieces and nephews and 18 great-nieces and nephews; and a list of friends a mile long.

Please join us for a celebration of life service on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Colfax at 2 p.m.