Karen A. Mattox

Karen “Meemaw” Mattox, of Quitman, passed away at home Monday evening, September 27, 2021, at the age of 77 after a lengthy illness.

Karen Aletha Anderson Mattox was born July 28, 1944 in Victoria, Texas to Charles Clarence Anderson and Margaret Aletha Johnston Anderson, the youngest of their five children. The Andersons were members of First Baptist Church of Victoria. She graduated from Victoria High School in 1962 and went on to attend and graduate from Victoria College.

Karen was a woman of many talents. She worked at Victoria Pharmacy soda fountain, was a switchboard operator in Victoria and Houston for many years, and a bookkeeper for small businesses.

She married Hugh L. Mattox and they became partners of Overhead Door Company in Dickinson, Texas. In 1977 they bought their own Overhead Door Company franchise and moved to Greenville, Mississippi. Karen brought Texas barbeque to Greenville at her BarBQ Barn and was well known for her sweet tea and barbeque brisket and ribs. That was where PacMan arcade game started her gaming career. Many family memories were made playing old school Nintendo games and card games like Shanghai and Ponytail.

In 1986 they retired and moved to Quitman, Texas to be close to family. Meemaw most enjoyed the house filled with children and their friends. She helped raise her grandchildren and later some of their children too!

In Heaven, she greets her parents, Charles Clarence and Margaret Aletha Anderson; husband, Hugh L. Mattox Sr.; five siblings, James Mowray Anderson, Margaret Charlene Anderson West, John David Anderson Sr., Judith Carol Anderson Sawyer, and Robert Charles Anderson; three step-children, Jamie Lee Mattox, Nathan Samuel Mattox, and Hugh L. Mattox Jr.; and nephew, John David “Johnny” Anderson Jr.

Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Charles William Dunham III and wife Pattie of Quitman, and Christopher Allen Mattox and wife Jamie of Quitman; 15 grandchildren, Madison Mattox, Brenden Mattox, Danny Vick Jr. and wife Krissy, Aletha Hollis and husband Steven, Amanda Mosley and husband Kaleb, Zac Hughes and wife Hollie, Diedre Mattox, Jessica Worley, Mollie Wheeler and husband Thomas, Chris Barrett, Amy Hill and husband Cliff, Dee Dee Reyes and husband Cesar, Josh Franzen, Matt Franzen and wife Megan, and Alivia Huss and husband Brennan; 16 great grandchildren, Katie Wallis, Annabelle Popek, Peyton Wallis, Anson Vick, Emmett Hughes, Gabriel Mosley, Macie Hughes, Baby Hughes who is on the way, Parker Franzen, Aniston Franzen, Aria Aletha Huss, John Franzen, Juniper Franzen, Jules Franzen, Kirstin Hawkins, and Ryan Hawkins; nieces and nephews, Margaret Franzen Turrentine, Dean West, Mary Mattox, David Sawyer, Dianne Stevens, Monica Sowell, Mickey Morton, Melinda Massey, Brandon Stevens, and Whitney Stevens; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, great grandchildren, extended family members, and friends.

Funeral service is scheduled for 3:00 PM Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Lowe-Gardner Funerals & Cremations with Chaplain Shane Barnes officiating. Graveside service will follow at Quitman City Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time, starting at 2:00 PM.

Serving as pallbearers are Matt Franzen, Brenden Mattox, Todd Mattox, Caleb Click, Chance Fuller, and Steven Fulmer. Honorary pallbearers are Josh Franzen and Brandon Stevens.