Herman H. Mattingly Jr.

Herman "Matt" Hanson Mattingly, Jr. was called home to be with his Heavenly Father on March 7, 2020 at 10:27 a.m. Herman was 76 years old and lived in Prattville, Alabama at the time of his death. Herman was born in Robertsdale, Alabama on May 15, 1943 to his parents, Mary Lee Oma Crowe Mattingly and Herman Hanson Mattingly, Sr. Herman was the middle child with six siblings, Nona Alice Mattingly Denton, William Robert Mattingly, Rose Mary Mattingly Brown, Carl Howard Mattingly, Roy Wayne Mattingly, and Martha Michelle Mattingly. Herman was a spontaneous, lively, and creative child who was always coming up with entrepreneurial ideas. His sister, Rose Mary, says that he was always meant to be a builder of sorts. She recalls a specific instance that Herman built a stand to put in their front yard hoping to display things to sell. Despite his efforts and his well built stand, they never sold anything. Herman was also a jokester, coming home one day with bandaids all over himself trying to fool his parents saying that he had fallen off of the roof of his school. Herman met his soulmate, Sandra K. Morrison, in Lakeland, Florida and they married on September 23, 1966. Herman and Sandra went on to have five beautiful children, twelve grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Herman and Sandra shared a beautiful life together and at the time of his death, they had celebrated 53 years of marriage. On October 10, 1960, at only 17 years old, Herman enlisted into the Marine Corps. Herman had a very successful career in the Marine Corps, achieving one of the highest enlisted ranks of Master Gunnery Sergeant. Herman spent a large part of his career as a Marine on Recruiting Duty where he mentored many Marine Recruiters and Officers and developed lasting friendships with his fellow Marines at all levels at which he so dutifully served this great nation. Herman was given the nickname, “Top”, because of his high rank in the Corps. Herman was one of two Marines that were hand-picked by Marine Headquarters to go to recruiter school. At the time, the Marine Headquarters wanted to reform the recruitment process to make it more successful so they singled out Marines that they felt would be the most influential in improving and overseeing the recruitment process. He truly epitomized what the Marine Corps Motto stands for, “Semper Fidelis”, always faithful to God, Country, and Corps. Herman’s time in the service took him all over the United States, as well as to Vietnam, but he was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama at the time of his retirement in 1996 and that is where he resided until his passing. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Herman started his own woodworking business, 601 Forty Cabinets. Herman was an amazing carpenter and his work can be found throughout homes and businesses in Alabama that are too numerous to count. Herman’s grandchildren will always remember their visits to his shop where he kept an old-fashioned Coke machine full of ice cold drinks and a refrigerator full of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Herman would sometimes use his woodworking tools to create small wooden cars for his grandchildren to play with while drinking their cokes and eating their Reese’s in his shop while he worked making beautiful cabinets and other creations. Herman was given the name, “Poppy”, when his second oldest grandchild was just learning to talk. He will forever be referred to as Poppy by much of his family. Herman was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, and Marine who loved God and his family with everything in him. He even served multiple roles for two of his grandchildren, taking over the father role when their father left. Herman loved animals, he protected and cared for so many of God's creatures during his time on this Earth. Once, he stopped at a spot on the side of the road every day for weeks to feed a stray dog that waited for him at the same time each day. Herman was a strong, yet kind-hearted man, who was the pillar of his family. He left a lasting impression on every person and creature that he interacted with throughout his lifetime. Herman is survived by his wife, Sandra K. Mattingly, their five children: Milissa Lee Mattingly Richardson, Carrie Elizabeth Mattingly Harris, Mary Mattingly Wynn, Herman Hanson Mattingly, III., and Robert Howard Wayne Mattingly, three siblings: Rose Mary Mattingly Brown, Roy Wayne Mattingly, and Martha Michelle Mattingly, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Herman was preceded in death by his parents: Mary Lee Oma Crowe Mattingly and Herman Hanson Mattingly, Sr., three siblings: Nona Alice Mattingly Denton, Carl Howard Mattingly, and William Robert Mattingly, and one grandchild: Kacy Elizabeth Harris. Herman achieved many accomplishments throughout his lifetime and made such an inspiring impression on all those who knew and loved him. He is a legend in his family and will forever be celebrated and remembered until the rest of his family and friends join him in Heaven. What a glorious and long awaited reunion it will be! A celebration of Herman’s life will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Prattville Wesleyan Church with visitation from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. with dinner to follow. The family invites all who knew Herman to join them in remembering and celebrating the amazing man he was.

Herman H. Mattingly Jr.

May 15, 1943 - March 7, 2020