James E. Mathews, 92, of Ventura passed away on Thursday May 21, 2015 at his home.
Mr. Mathews was born November 10, 1922 in Independence, Missouri. During World War II he was in the 8th Army Air Coprs stationed in England. He became a petroleum landman, a position he held for 30 years working for Shell Oil Company, Phillips, and Exxon Oil Company. This position took him to Alaska, Bakersfield, New Mexico, Los Angeles, Michigan and Ventura. 
Jim enjoyed drawing and painting, working in his vegetable gardens, hiking trails in the Ventura Hills. Jim loved his dogs and horses and took pride in raising them and caring for them.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife Dorothy, to whom he would have celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary in June; Son and daughter-in-law Stephen and Tina Mathews of West Hills; daughter and son-in-law Laura and Scott Talmage of San Luis Obispo; sister Alice Valdes of Palos Verdes; son-in-law Dale Baermann of Ventura; grandchildren Conrad and Katherine Baermann, Victoria Weeks, Anna and James Talmage; he was preceded in death by his daughter Marie Baermann on January 4, 2015.
Funeral services and interment were private and under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME, 757 E. Main Street Ventura. Donations in Jim's memory may be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Avenue Suite 101 Ventura, 93003.