Logan Harold Mathis was born in Paris, Tennessee on May 6, 1932; he was the third of four sons.His family relocated to Detroit, Michigan when he was eleven years of age. He considered himself a son of both Tennessee and Michigan.He is survived by his wife, Andrea ( Harger) Mathis, their children Debra (Jack) Wiley of Traverse City, Michigan and Richard (Laurie) Mathis of White Lake, Michigan. Their grandchildren include Braden (Katie) Mathis of Novi, Michigan, David (Jen) Mathis of Commerce Township, Michigan, Katie Lee Mathis of Commerce Township, Michigan, Justin Malter of Warren, Michigan, Chelsea (Jay) Burton of Dexter, Michigan and Mandy (John) Celestino of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Great grandchildren: Logan and Jackson Mathis of Commerce Township, Michigan along with Jackson and Haley Burton of Dexter, Michigan. Brother-in-law Donald (Fran) Harger of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Logan was also a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews across the USA. He was preceded in death by his parents Nebraska (Hosford) and James Marshall Mathis. and his three brothers, Adrian Mathis of Bozeman, Montana, Marshall Mathis of Sarasota, Florida, and Joe Mathis, who died at age four in Paris, Tennessee.
After graduation from Western High School (1954) in Detroit Michigan and Wayne State University, he served in the USAF (1955-58). He was stationed in Texas, Mississippi, but mostly Alaska. His duty assignments included top secret and classified work in the Aleutian Islands.
Logan Mathis held an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering (1954) and two graduate degrees, one in Mechanical Engineering (1961) and another in Business Administration with a Management Major (1969) from Wayne State University. As alumni of Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity, he stayed active and supportive. His professional fraternities which recognize academic excellence include Tau Beta Pi (Academic) and Sigma Iota Epsilon (Management). He has been a registered professional engineer in Michigan since 1965.During his career, he worked for Chance Vought Aircraft, Burroughs Corporation, Vickers a Division of Sperry Rand, and Ross Controls. He began his career with Ross Controls (Ross Operating Valve Company) in 1975 and about 1984 Ross planned to build a plant in Lavonia. The Engineering Department, Logan and his wife all moved to Lavonia in 1986. Logan retired in 1998 from Ross Controls as Manager of the Engineering Division.
Internationally, Logan was well known within his industry, especially in Japan, Germany, and England, for his expertise in the pneumatic industry for which he holds patents for machine tool applications.He also holds patents for aircraft anti-skid braking systems in the hydraulic industry. For more than 50 years, he has been a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and was awarded lifetime membership for service. He has held various leadership positions within professional organizations associated with the pneumatic valve industry.
A member of the Lavonia Presbyterian Church for 30 years, he served multiple terms as elder, trustee, assistant treasurer, and representative to the local Helping Hands Ministry.He set up a form to record the data required for end of month reports to the Northeast Georgia Food Bank regarding the LPC Food Distribution Ministry and continued to input the numbers. He drew the plans for the fellowship hall addition to the church building. He was a man behind the scenes as much as a visible one. Visiting members and others who could not leave home was a usual activity. Logan believed and lived a life of serving others. His commitment to emulating a Christian way of being was seen in many ways by family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
Logan cherished his role as grandparent.Because his work required him to be in Michigan every 4-6 weeks, he saw his grandchildren often; they knew him. Each summer, the grandkids came to spend time at the lake house, a place of adventure where swimming, fishing, and boating were ongoing daily activities. Last summer, Logan sat at a table with two of his great grandsons and played with them, rolling perfectly engineered coils of play dough, making things with them. Later, they went outside to explore and to play games, again being fully present.
In 1986 Logan joined the Lavonia Chamber of Commerce and later served as President. Being engaged within his local community became even greater after his retirement. He was a strong advocate for Lavonia and Franklin County. His caring had deep roots and it spread from event to event, organization to organization, both great and small.The Mathises moved to Lavonia for business reasons, staying because they love it.
Logan liked water and the home on the lake was relaxing. He liked to walk on the beach, read, swim and go boating. Retirement meant a new adventure of travel and many new friends with the Born Free Leap'n Lions Motorhome group where he served as VP and hosted many rallies.
Friends have spoken of Logan as...kind, well-mannered, highly intelligent, funny and very generous. He was steadfast - always with you in all circumstances.He was a good man and is greatly loved and greatly missed. The world and this community are less because he has departed our company for the Church Triumphant.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lavonia Presbyterian Church or LPC Mobile Food Pantry or charity of one's choice.
The memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the Lavonia Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jennifer Horton officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
Strickland Funeral Home of Lavonia is in charge of arrangements. On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.stricklandfh.com.