Jean Gorden Mattison

Jean Gordon Mattison, 90, died Thursday, November 14, 2013 at the home of her daughters in Lenexa. Jean was born to Clarence and Helen Smith Gordon in Emporia, KS.
She attended Emporia State Teachers College and was proud to have been personally hired by William Allen White to be a reporter on the Emporia Gazette, an opportunity afforded by the lack of men to fill jobs due to World War II. In 1944 she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served as a reporter on the Port of Embarkation News in New York City.
Jean married a fellow soldier and reporter, Henry Hall “Bud” Mattison in 1946. They moved to his hometown of Rutland, VT where he was an editor for the Rutland Herald.
They relocated to Lawrence, KS in 1962 where she lived until 2010, moving to Lenexa, KS to live with her daughters. While in Lawrence she loved her 31 years of working as an administrative assistant to three Deans of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1962; brother, Charles Gordon; and sister, Peg Carnine. She is survived by her daughters, Lynne and Barbara of Lenexa, Kathy of Wichita; grandchildren Jason, Brian, Matthew, Charles, and Katie. She is survived by sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Michael Bryant, brother-in-law, Lloyd Carnine, sister-in-law, Mary Gordon, son-in-law, Ramadan Khomsi, as well as nieces and nephews.
Jean survived several life challenges with humor, strength, and continued enjoyment of life. She loved her family, her pets, music, reading, good food, and anything KU. She will be missed.
A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence at 120 W. 13th Street. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City, KS.
In Lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials in her name to the Lawrence Humane Society or Kansas City Hospice and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.