The Mattingly Family
Jim was born in Harrison, AR on Mar 30, 1954. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour at the age 12 at Morris Heights Baptist Church in Aurora, CO. Ruby was born in Joplin, MO on Nov 25, 1953. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour at the age of 13 at Bethel Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO.
Jim started singing with his family, the beginning of the original “Mattingly Family Qt” with his mother, father, and brother. They joined Bethel BC and that is where Jim and Ruby met. In 1972, we began singing with a quartet called “The Gospel Messengers”. Jim also served as music director at Bethel BC. On Aug 17, 1974, we were married there. Jim also worked for Butler Manufacturing Company in Kansas City. Jeremiah was born while we were serving at Bethel. Then, Jim was called to become the minister of music at First Baptist Church in Plattsburg, MO. We served there for 6 years. Jedidah, Rebekah, and Rachel were born while attending Ist Baptist.
In 1985, Butler transferred our family to Lebanon. PA where we spent the next 9 1/2 years. Ruth Ann and Jonathan were born there. When we began our family, we tried in every way we could to involve them in ministry. While living in PA, we attended Lebanon Valley Baptist Church in Lebanon, where we were active in community activities. We volunteered at the local pregnancy center doing mass mailings and child-care while workers were trained. Ruby organized backyard Bible club for local apartments and a Bible school for children on the backside of the Penn National Racetrack. We ministered to the children of horse trainers and jockeys. Each of our children had responsibility in the Bible schools and backyard clubs. We were also very active in the mission organizations of our church.
Jim retired from Butler in March, 1995 and we moved back to southern Missouri where we currently reside, when we are home. This is where we really began full time in ministry. We had the opportunity to minister all across the Midwest singing in churches and other venues. Some of the highlights were our first visit to the National Quartet Convention, singing at Davy Crockett Days in Rutherford, TN for 6 years, and performing at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR for about 10 years. It was an awesome journey to sing with our 6 children and to minister together.
Jeremiah was born November 29, 1978. He accepted Jesus as his Saviour at the age of 5 at home. Jim and I were privileged to lead him to the Lord. At the age of 9, he did his first solo. At the age of 12, he became our bass singer. He has been singing with us for over 33 years. His favorite pass times are collecting antiques and working on small engines. He spends a lot of time while at home working with his nephews on mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws and whatever else they can find. Recently, he bought a 1926 Model T truck which has become a highlight.
Jedidiah was born on April 15,1980. He also sang his first solo around 9 years old. He continued to sing with us for about a year after he and Chari were married. Today, he operates a big turkey farm and is raising 10, soon to be 11, children in Seymour, MO. They are teaching their children at home. They can all sing beautiful harmony and I love to listen to them sing.
Rebekah was born at 4:30 on July 4, 1981. She sang her first solo around 7 years old and continued to sing with us until she married. Today, she and husband, Alan run a little convenience store in Ben Davis, MO. Alan also works on chain saws and does other small engine repair. They have 5 children who love to sing with us. They homeschool their children and are active in the community.
Rachel was born at 5:00 on July 4, 1981. Yes they are twins. She sang her first solo also around 7 years old and continued to sing with us until she married. Today, she and her husband Joshua live in Hartville, MO. Joshua works on John Deere tractors and is a diesel mechanic . They have 5 children who love to sing with us. She also homeschools their children
Ruth Ann was born January 16, 1990 and has been singing almost all of her life (lol). She accepted Jesus as her Saviour at the age of 6. Rachel led her to the Lord. She loves 1940-era music and movies. She loves to be around people and visit. Her past times are working on jewelry, coloring, and music.
Jonathan was born on Dec 24, 1992, and has also been singing all his life. He was our lead singer until 2017 and is now the lead singer for the Blackwood Brothers Quartet. He and Sarah live in Nashville, TN and they have 1 child, the Amazing Asher.
What a blessing they all are and have been.