Leonard "Don" Mathis, 94, passed away peacefully at in his home in La Quinta, California, on November 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. Don was born April 12, 1931, in Cordell, Oklahoma, to Ima Gene and Clarence Homer Mathis. One of four boys, he grew up in a sharecropping family that moved across Oklahoma and West Texas, where hard work, brotherhood, and humor shaped his early years. He spent his high school years in the Capitol Hill area of South Oklahoma City.

Eventually, Don and his brothers made their way into the furniture business. What began as collecting scrap metal door-to-door for the war effort evolved into buying used refrigerators and furniture for repair and resale. In 1950, at the age of 19, Don married Mary Jane Peck. Together they raised two sons, Larry and Billy, who grew up to become his partners in adventure and enterprise.

In 1960, Don and his brother Bud co-founded Mathis Brothers Furniture, which grew from a single operation into a major furniture retail business with 39 stores and a variety of business models. Don and his brother, Bud also shared a passion for country music, which led them to create, produce, and host a weekly 30-minute television program called "The Mathis Brothers Country Social." They often performed alongside the country greats, giving their furniture store a memorable personality and forging lifelong friendships with many country music legends.

In 1967, Don bought Bud's share of the furniture business and continued to grow the company. He involved his sons, Larry and Bill, in the family business from an early age, teaching them the trade and the value of customer service. Don continued expanding his business ventures, including the construction of a mattress factory in Oklahoma City in 1991, which has since grown and continues to produce high-quality mattresses made in Oklahoma.

Don also pursued a love of golf, playing more than 15,000 rounds in his lifetime. At age 60, he purchased Oak Tree Men's Club in Edmond, Oklahoma—now known as Oak Tree National—and spent a decade improving the course, swapping stories, laughing over friendly bets, and playing cards with the members. With his characteristic drive and passion, Don also found success in thoroughbred horse racing, a hobby he shared with his sons. Don's horse racing success included Pine Tree Lane, winner of eight graded stakes races including the Carter Handicap.

In his later years, Don retired to La Quinta, California, where he spent the last 20 years of his life enjoying golf, sunshine, good friends, and his growing family. Don's 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, who all called him Papa Don, will carry forward his stories, humor, and example. He lived a long and full life, surrounded by family and cherished friends who shared in his laughter, adventures, and accomplishments. His legacy lives on through his family, the businesses he founded and nurtured, the young musicians who were inspired by The Country Social, and the countless lives he touched.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Ima Gene and Homer Mathis; his brothers, Royce Wayne Mathis (1928–1972), Eldon Ray Mathis (1930–2011), and Charles Homer "Bud" Mathis (1934–2019).

He is survived by his sons, Larry D. Mathis and his wife, Beth, and Bill J. Mathis and his wife, Terry; and by his grandchildren, Rit and Bianca Mathis of Oklahoma City, OK; Laura and Tory Patterson of Providence, RI; Lexi Mathis of Oklahoma City, OK; Kerry Mathis Pacillio of Irvine, CA; Carson Mathis and Steve Da Costa of Oklahoma City, OK; Sierra and John Tarkington of Oklahoma City, OK; Sophia Mathis of Oklahoma City, OK; Larry J. Mathis of Oklahoma City, OK; Billy B. Mathis of Oklahoma City, OK; and his beloved caretakers Adriana and Conrado Marquez and their children, Victoria and Conrado (whom he affectionately called "Little Ranger"), of La Quinta, CA.

In lieu of flowers, Don would have wanted friends to donate to OU Children's Hospital or the Boys and Girls Club of Coachella Valley . A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 2 PM at Crossings Community Church 14600 N. Portland Avenue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Those unable to attend may join via live stream at: https://vimeo.com/event/5534765/ef7eea1471