Lafayette Embree Mathes was born August 31, 1929 in Lenora, Oklahoma to Mildred Ellen Barnes and Paul Embree Mathes. He died July 13, 2010 at his home in Oklahoma City. Lafe grew up in Dewey County, Oklahoma and graduated high school from Ft. Supply, Oklahoma in 1946. He married Adeline Joan Dodd on April 25, 1947 in Canadian, Texas. He did seismographic work for Young Exploration for a number of years. He later worked for H.J. Jefferies and U. S. Express trucking companies and spoke about traveling to almost every state and Canada. Lafe loved family reunions - getting everyone together, catching up on their lives, and seeing all the new additions to the family and how much the young ones had grown. Although it took hours and hours to mow, he liked his yard to look as good as any golf course around. There was nothing he could not fix. It might take him a day or two to figure it out, but he would get it fixed. There isnt anyone who ever asked for Lafe's help that didn't get it. No matter what it was he was always there to help. He had the BIGGEST heart anyone has ever known. He is survived by his wife, Joan, of the home; four sons and their wives, Charles & Pam, Clyde & Anna, Stergus & Darla, Dennis & Brenda; 6 grandchildren, and 6 great- grandchildren. Also survived by brother Garrett Mathes of CO; three sisters, Mildred Zuck of Del City, OK, Margaret Davis of Amarillo, TX and Patricia Lee of North Richland Hills, TX. He was preceded in death by son Fred Lawrence Mathes in 1985, daughter-in-law Sandra Mathes in 2007, and both of his parents. Graveside services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Elmwood Cemetery, Woodward, Oklahoma. He was loved and will be missed more than words can ever say.