Hugh charles Mattingly

Hugh Mattingly was born April 19, 1961 to Josie and Ed Mattingly of Biggs. He was the
youngest of their 9 children. Hugh spent his youth in Biggs where he forged many great, lifelong
friendships. He participated in sports. Hugh was a jokester, even convincing later coworkers that
he was so influential at Biggs High School that they had erected a statue of him in front of the
school.
While in the 8th grade Hugh started dating the love of his life, Rachael. They were married on
June 10, 1984. In September of 1985 they became parents to their daughter, Meghan. In
November of 1988 they welcomed their second daughter, Amelia. Hugh was an attentive and
involved father raising his family in Paradise. He frequently came to school to help supervise
recess and engage with the kids. Hugh chaperoned Meghan’s 8th grade trip to Washington D.C.
and New York City in 1999. He was involved in helping coach Amelia’s soccer teams. When
Amelia began ballroom dancing, Hugh and Rachael enthusiastically also took lessons.
Hugh was actively involved in the communities where he lived. While in Paradise he was in
Rotary, on the Gold Nugget Museum Board of Directors, and EAA. He thoroughly enjoyed
participating in Gold Nugget Days Melodrama for several years where he played both the villain
banker and the hero cowboy.
Professionally, Hugh went to Chico State and graduated with a degree in business finance. He
became a banker working at multiple different financial establishments during his banking career
of over 36 years. He left banking in 2019 after his harrowing experience evacuating the Camp
Fire in 2018 and losing his home in Paradise. He decided life was too short and to pursue his
lifelong desire to fly crop dusters. Hugh had had his pilot’s license since he was in college, but in
2019 earned his commercial pilots license. He officially became an Ag Pilot in March of 2021.
In 2017 and 2019 Hugh earned his favorite title: “Papa” to Meghan’s children.
With every new role Hugh took on and every person he met, he walked away with a new friend.
On Tuesday May 28, 2024 Hugh's crop duster went down as he was working in Richvale. The
cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Hugh is survived by his wife Rachael, favorite daughter Meghan, her husband Ryan Stone and
their children Harper and Rhett, favorite daughter Amelia and her significant other Will Wolheim.
He is also survived by 7 of his siblings: Kathy Wold, Mike Mattingly, Jane Fiack, Theo Mattingly,
Patrick Mattingly, Liz Dawley, and Chris Bullard, their families, and numerous cousins on both
his and Rachael’s side of the family.
Family requests that in lieu of flowers please make a donation in Hugh's name to Experimental
Aircraft Association Young Eagles, the Paradise Rotary Club, or a charity of your choosing.

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