Christie Anne Mathes

Christie Anne Mathes, age 72 of Livingston, Montana died Monday, July 22, 2024 at their home in Livingston, Montana after a brief illness. Husband Curt was at her bedside. 

Christie was born on February 5, 1952 in Granite City, Illinois to the late Lawrence and Thelma Dillman Koglin. 

Growing up she enjoyed spending summers on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri at their chalets. Her love for country music and Willie Nelson was nurtured at the amphitheater. She played the clarinet but her love for the piano lasted her lifetime. 

In 1973 she graduated from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. Christie was proud to come from a long line of nurses including her mother and grandmother and two aunts. Later, both of her daughters, a cousin and two nieces also became nurses.

She met Curt on the Jr High Band bus in 1966. He was immediately smitten by her beauty. The two married in 1977 in Hawaii. The couple went on to have three children Shawn, Courtney and Zach. Being a mom came naturally to the caregiver. Most days she had extra kids in tow. She enjoyed working at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center for decades, where coworkers became friends. The family made the move to Sarasota, Florida in 1996 to be near her mother Thelma and the beach. 

Christie suffered a stroke-like illness which left her with short term memory loss but also an almost constant state of happiness. After Zach then Courtney died, Curt and Christie moved to Montana to be near their oldest daughter Shawn and granddaughter Maggie May. She was so proud to be close to her only granddaughter growing up. 

Everyone who knew her and even some who didn’t, knew she was Willie Nelson’s biggest fan! Though Christie didn’t care much for the cold weather, she enjoyed making new memories with her family in Montana. Some of her favorite times were driving around, listening to old country music and going to the hot springs. 

Christie is survived by her husband of 47 years, William “Curt” Mathes, daughter Shawn Mathes Darr and her husband Jim Darr and granddaughter Maggie May Darr of Gardiner, Montana. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Larry and Thelma Dillman Koglin, her sister Carol Koglin two of her children, Courtney Laine Ringer and Zachary Curtis Mathes.

We invite you to listen to a song that was made for her. A glimpse of her story.

https://www.songfinch.com/stories/498a73a1-c85e-46bf-8f6b-3157fd723240

The family will spread her ashes at the Natural Bridge in Montana in a private ceremony. 

 They have asked that in lieu of flowers, to please pay it forward to someone in need & hug your loved ones! 

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