Matthias John Ottis, Jr., 86, of Bay City passed away October 4, 2014. He was born July 3, 1928 in Van Vleck, TX to the late Matthias John Ottis and Rosina Antoinette Imhauser Ottis.

Matthias, known to everyone as 'Matt' graduated from Bay City High School in 1945. He was voted most likely to become a rice farmer of world renown. He worked the rice fields until signing up to proudly defend his country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict from November 16, 1950 - to September 30, 1952 when he was honorably discharged as a CPL in Fort Richardson, Alaska after serving at Camp Carson In Colorado. When he returned home, he used his knowledge to run and repair heavy equipment as a contractor, an auto mechanic at Vollmering Motor Shop, and began working at Phillips Petroleum on November 5, 1952. He worked in Pasadena, Kansas City, and Venezuela and eventually retired from the Sweeny plant as a Shift Supervisor on October 1, 1985.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Christopher Matthias Harton.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Clarice Maerz Ottis; brother Harold(Margaret) Ottis, daughters Yvonne (Sam) Evans, Mary Ottis, Sharon (Gary) Harton, and Melinda Ottis; eight grandchildren, Kimberly(Brendan) Smith, Katy(Walt) Wendler, Erica, Ashley and Jacob Harton, Kacie and Kari Rosser, Ryan Denby and one great-grandson Landon McMillan, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Willis Vickery; sisters-in-law Genevieve Maerz and Eleanor Maerz and countless friends.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing, whittling, puttering in his shop, reading the comics, and family campouts. He could fix anything and enjoyed sharing his knowledge. His family was his world. Nothing pleased him more than surprise visits from his beloved grandchildren. He fervently supported his girls through 4-H, FHA, MCFLA, and FFA. Matt was named FFA Father of the Year in 1984. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay City and a charter member of the Bay City Knights of Columbus #3070. He was named Knight of the Year in 1997. He served as the Financial Secretary for 19 years. As a member of the St. Mary Star of the Sea Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, he participated in leading many Rice Festival parades.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 5PM until 7:00PM Monday at the funeral home with a rosary being recited at 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father Greg Korenek officiating. Interment with Military Honors by the VFW Post 2438 will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery near Van Vleck. Pallbearers will be Harold Ottis, Jr., Frank Ottis, Paul Ottis, Michael Maerz, and David Rosser,Dwayne Dibbern and Cole Diettrich. Honorary pallbearers will be J.N. McDonald, Bill Bennett,Hadden Diettrich Jr. as well as the Knights of Columbus Council #3070 and the St. Mary Star of the Sea $th Degree Knights.

The family would like to give special thanks to Wilada Green, Andrei Jones and Carrie Mills for improving Matt's quality of life and to Larry Browning for being his taxi driver after he could no longer drive. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Cross School Library or the K of C #3070 scholarship fund. Matt took a great pride in education and expected his daughters to go to college. They, along with all of the grandchildren, fulfilled his dreams.