Sara Nell (Groce) Mathis, 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at her Caldwell home.
Visitation was held at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, from 12 p.m. noon until the funeral service began at 2:00 p.m.
Burial followed at the Providence Baptist Church Cemetery.
Sara was born on April 27, 1923, to parents Seth S. and Maude (Nix) Groce in the Volney community of Burleson County.
She attended Volney schools and later graduated from Caldwell High School.
In 1943, Sara married Bennie Hemenes and was blessed with her only child, Larry James Hemenes in 1944.
In July 1955, she would later marry Travis Morris Mathis. Sara and Travis enjoyed their life together in Bryan.
While living in Bryan, she was very active in professional, civic organizations and Calvary Baptist Church.
Sara had different jobs over the years, she worked as a PBX operator in both Caldwell and later at Bryan Air Force Base.
She also managed the S&H Green Stamp redemption center and was a bank teller at First National Bank in Bryan.
In later years, Sara and Travis retired and moved back to Caldwell. Sara was never idle, keeping herself busy with activities at Providence Baptist Church. She loved singing in the choir, and learning to navigate facebook to keep up with family and old friends. She was very competitive and loved playing card games and dominoes.Out of all her accomplishments, she was most proud of her son, daughter-in-law and grandkids. Sara enjoyed spending time with friends, even traveling back to Bryan to the JOY (“Just Older Youth”) groups at Calvary Baptist, and going out to eat with her Caldwell friend group who called themselves “The Golden Girls”. Sara and Travis loved traveling together and over the years their RV trips took them to nearly all 50 states. When back at home in Caldwell, Sara volunteered her time with the historical society and other community groups.
Sara was a go-getter and she continued to learn new skills even in her older years. Sara continued her lifelong passion of going out dancing, especially when she had the opportunity to attend a Sons of Hermann get-together. She learned to play the harmonica in her 80s and would perform for nursing homes and other Burleson County events. Sara always remained young at heart. She even learned to use an ipad and computer in her mid-90s. Sara was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Sara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Travis in 2011. She is also preceded by her parents, Seth and Maude Groce; and her siblings, Hubert Groce, Horace Groce, John Groce, Seth Groce Jr., and Eula Bea Schoppe.
Survivors include her son, Larry Hemenes (wife, Nancy); grandchildren, Lori Hemenes Dowell (husband, Jim), John Hemenes (wife, Wendy), James Hemenes (wife, Mary); great-grandchildren, Zach Dowell (wife, Katie), Alexis Dowell, Tyler Dowell, Madeline Hemenes, Colby Hemenes, and Reagan Hemenes. Sara was extremely excited to meet her first great-great-grandchild, Audrey Kate Dowell who was born in April of this year.
She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and many loving friends.
Pallbearers were family members – John Hemenes, James Hemenes, Zach Dowell, Ty Dowell, Jim Dowell, and Colby Hemenes.
Honorary pallbearers were Vic Barnett, Richard Meyer, Jeff Groce, Lamar Groce and Seth Groce.
Memorials may be given to: Providence Cemetery Association, 5212 CR 236 Caldwell, Texas 77836, or Providence Baptist Church, P.O. Box 625, Caldwell, Texas 77836.
Arrangements by Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. They invite you to visit their website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes.com and sign the online register book.