Dr. William Frazier "Bill" Mathis, 55, of Hickory, passed away unexpectedly Sunday Jan. 20, 2008 at his residence. Dr. Mathis was born on April 7, 1952 in Chattanooga, Tenn. to the late Gordon and Mary Nelle Mathis.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lucinda Katherine Mathis. He attended Baylor High School where he received the Morehead Scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill. At Chapel Hill he excelled in pre-med, tying for first in his class. He served as vice-president in Phi Beta Kappa, and upon leaving Chapel Hill, he attended UT's College for the Health Sciences in Memphis, TN. Again he ranked high in his classes, receiving his M.D. in 1977.

After graduation, he was commissioned into the U.S. Navy where he served with honor until 1986. Prior to resigning his commission as Commander, Dr. Mathis was awarded the ribbon as sharpshooter and served as a submarine squadron doctor with the Navy SEALS, where he earned his diving certification.

In 1977, he opened private practice in Tennessee. After a year he moved his growing family to Hildebran and opened a family practice clinic. At his death, he was again working in family practice in Happy Valley, NC.

Dr. Mathis was a Christian, and through the years had, in various churches, served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and on various committees. Dr. Mathis took his faith seriously and in the last three years had served with medical mission teams, sponsored by the Baptist Men's Association, going to Honduras.

Dr. Bill will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Pamela Coady Mathis of Hickory; three daughers, Mandy Holliday and husband, Sloan, of Raleigh, Amber Mathis of Hickory, and Emily Mathis of Hickory; sister, Kitty Baldwin and husband Bob of Jasper, Ga.; nephew, Gordon Baldwin of Arlington, Va.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Charlie Ray Vaughn of Ooltewah, Tenn.; nephew, Carter Vaughn of Ooltewah, Tenn.; and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Helen and Dale Coady of Chattanooga, Tenn.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Wilkie's Grove Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Ray Raymer. A graveside service with Military Rites will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Coulter Cemetery, Kinsington, Ga. Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Men-Medical Missions, P.O. Box 1107 Cary, NC 27512. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com. Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese is serving the family.