Jeri Mathes

Funeral services for Jeri Mathes, 76-year-old Sheridan, Wyoming resident who passed away on the 30^th of May, in Scottsdale, Arizona, will be held 10:00 AM Monday, June 17^th at the First Presbyterian Church in Sheridan with Pastor Karl Heimbuck officiating. Interment will be held at a private family ceremony at a later date.  Donations in Jeri’s memory may be made to the University of Wyoming Foundation, where an endowed scholarship celebrating early literacy has been established in her name.  A reception will be held at the church fellowship hall following the service.  Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Jeri Jean Mathes was born on April 25, 1948, in Powell, Wyoming, where she also grew up, attended school, and worked at the family clothing store.  She graduated from Powell High School with the class of 1966.  After high school, she attended the University of Wyoming and was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.  She graduated with an Education Degree in 1970 and began teaching grade school at Slade Elementary in Laramie, Wyoming.  

While attending the University of Wyoming, Jeri met her future husband, George Mathes, and they were married on August 25, 1968, in Powell, Wyoming.  George and Jeri made their original home in Laramie, Wyoming, and Jeri took a break from teaching to raise their young family.  In 1976, they moved to Gillette, Wyoming, and Jeri was an extremely dedicated mother, while also running a home daycare for other children.  Jeri returned to teaching in 1981, when her sons were school-age.  George and Jeri divorced in 1990.

Education was Jeri’s passion, and she spent the majority of her career teaching kindergarten and first-grade students in Gillette, Wyoming.  Jeri returned to school in 1994 and earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Black Hills State in 1996.   In 2000, Jeri had the opportunity to receive additional, intensive training and become a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader.  Believing that every child can and should be able to read, she spent the rest of her career in Gillette and Sheridan, Wyoming, where she taught children and other teachers high-impact literacy interventions.  She retired from the Sheridan County School District in 2014.

Jeri made her home in Sheridan, Wyoming, but also had residences in Scottsdale, AZ, and Puerto Penasco, MX.  She immensely enjoyed her time on the beach and watching sunsets over the water.  Her family was always her number one priority, and she cherished time spent with her sons and their families.  Of special note, she took all four of her grandchildren to Disneyland for the first time to share the magic of her childhood.  She loved all her friends dearly and maintained an active social life, playing cards and spending time with them in both Sheridan and Mexico.    She is survived by her sons George Mathes (Tara) of Laramie, Rob Mathes of Denver, and Sean Mathes (Christy) of Gillette.  Additionally, she had four grandchildren:  Ashlyn and Mia (George and Tara), Derek (Rob), and Jaisley (Sean and Christy).  She is preceded in death by her parents (Bob and Jean Samsel) and brothers (Dennis and Kent Samsel).