Bruce Craig Matheny

Bruce Craig Matheny, age 90, of Applegate, passed away July 25, 2020.

His parents, O.W. Matheny and Jessie (Ludwig) Matheny of Jacksonville, predeceased him. He was born in 1930, spending his early years on a small hillside farm in Applegate and attending Applegate Elementary School. With his family, he later moved to Vancouver, Washington, but then returned to southern Oregon where he graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1949.

In 1955, after four years in the Navy, Bruce married, and later had two sons, Craig and David. In 1958 he completed his degree at Southern Oregon College of Education (now Southern Oregon University) and began his teaching career, first at Ruch Elementary School and later at Applegate Elementary School where he was Superintendent/Principal and also part-time teacher in the 7th and 8th grade class. He occasionally drove school bus when a driver was unavailable and coached boys’ sports after school. He earned his M.S. in 1975 at Southern Oregon University and worked at Scenic Junior High in Central Point for five years, then returned to Applegate as Superintendent/Principal. In the summers he fought forest fires for the Oregon State Department of Forestry, both as Hotshot crew foreman and also as a fire warden. During that time, in 1972, he married Alice Cook, and they celebrated 48 years of marriage this April. He retired in 1989, ending his career where it began, at the Applegate School.

In his spare time, he loved to hunt, fish, play cards, cross-country ski, travel, and just enjoy friends.

Survivors in addition to his wife, Alice, are sons Craig Matheny of California City, California and Dave Matheny (Jackie) of Grants Pass; grandsons Deryk Matheny (Ashley) of Mesa, Arizona, Mitch Matheny of Grants Pass, and great-grandson Baylor Matheny of Mesa, Arizona. Also surviving is Bruce’s sister Marla Stoner of Applegate; and three nephews.

The family wishes to express its heartfelt thanks and love for Clint and Joni and for the splendid care they gave to him in his last months.

Private services will be held.