Newton Eugene Mathis

Newton Eugene Mathis, 88, of Bainbridge Island died Nov. 27 at Messenger House.

He was born Jan. 30, 1916, in Butler, Okla. His father and uncle worked on neighboring farms, where he learned to pick cotton and make ice cream when hailstorms delivered ice.

They moved to California when “Newt” was age 7, and he grew up in the rich farm country of California’s Central Valley, working crops, picking fruit and fishing the rivers of the Sierra Nevada. The habit of hard work and love of farming and the outdoors continued throughout his life.

After graduating from high school in San Jose, Calif., his plans to study agriculture were disrupted by the Depression. While working at a linoleum factory in Emeryville, his continual stream of suggestions for improvements earned him the name of “Engineer Mathis.”

It was there that he met Kathryn McNeely. Although they got lost finding the minister’s house, they were married in May 1938.

Between the births of their two sons, Newt realized his dream of owning a place in the country where he could raise a garden and keep a milk cow and chickens. On the farm he called “Tollgate,” he and his wife raised a family in a lifestyle that was mostly self-sufficient.

He became a timber faller in the day of hand saws, double-bit axes and spring boards. With the evolution of the chain saw, he continued his innovation by inventing new ways to use that tool to control falling a tree. His specialty became removing difficult and dangerous trees around vacation cabins, homes and power lines.

Retirement meant that timber falling was no longer an occupation. He continued to be very active cutting wood, building a greenhouse, gardening and helping his neighbors.

In 1979, he and his wife moved to Trinidad on the north coast of California to escape the Sierra snow, and in 1995 they followed their family to Bainbridge Island.

He enjoyed talking with anyone from any walk of life, and never tired of retelling stories that gained embellishments over the years. He had many friends and acquaintances, some of whom discovered upon meeting that both knew Newt.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn of Bainbridge Island; and granddaughters Hillary of Tucson, Ariz., and Brenda of Bainbridge.

A private family memorial is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Bainbridge Island, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.