James J. Mattis, 71, of Budd Lake, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, after a long battle with multiple sclerosis in Hackettstown Hospital, Hackettstown, N.J.

Born in Shamokin, Pa., on May 11, 1938, he was the son of the late Michael and Mary (Smetana) Mattis. Mattis was a graduate of Coal Township High School and a graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmetsburg, Md., with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Mattis also did student teaching at Michigan State. On Feb. 14, 1999 he married the former Henrietta Blatt who survives.

He was employed as a research chemist for USR Optonix in Hackettstown, N.J. for forty years. He was a
former environmental commissioner for four years in Washington Township, Morris County. He most recently participated on the training sub-committee of the personal assistant service program in New Jersey.

When he was feeling better he loved fishing and hunting. Survivors in addition to his wife include three children, Moon Root of Petaluma, Colo., Eric and his wife, Katrina of San Diego, Calif., and Rebecca Mattis and her husband, Gian Pauletto of Barre, Vt.; two grandchildren, Evan and George; one brother, Mike Mattis and his wife, Patricia of Kenosha, Wisc.; and a sister, Joan Roberts and her husband, William of Den Mar Gardens as well as 11 nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter and William and one sister, Sylvia Pultyniewicz.

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