Obituary: Mattison Kent Ferber

Dr. Mattison Kent Ferber, 61, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, died June 29, 2014. “Matt,” son of Clyde and Betty Ferber, and loving husband and best friend of Verda Adkins-Ferber, passed away on June 29 at his home in Oak Ridge.

Born June 4, 1953, in Danville, Illinois, Matt graduated from Jamaica High School in 1971, and received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois, while spending his summers working for the Ferber family Fairmount ReadyMix plant.

Matt was a distinguished researcher in material sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as at Ceramatec in Salt Lake City. He started the MTIC LLC and served as a consultant, professor, group leader, and mentor throughout his career. His honorary and technical societies include Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Keramos, the University of Illinois Bronze Tablet, the American Ceramic Society, ASME, and ASM, and he received the Bronze Tablet from the University of Illinois and other awards through his work with ORNL.

Matt enjoyed building and working with his hands and always had an affinity for problem-solving. He had an effortless sense of humor and greatly enjoyed time spent on the lakes of East Tennessee or the Fairmount quarry.

Matt is survived by his wife Verda, and four children: sons Aaron and Austin, stepson Hunter Adkins, and stepdaughter Cassidy Adkins; by grandbaby Lily Burr; and canine companions: Sophie, Tao, Roux, and Harper; and feline friend Kizzy Jane. He is also survived by his close friends and colleagues, HT Lin and Andy Wereszczak, and his former wife Karla Mullins and her husband Mike.

Matt’s sister, Beth Harper, passed away from cancer earlier this year, and is survived by her husband Bill and sons Brad and Craig Corbin.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to either Helping Paws Animal Network (HPAN) or the American Cancer Society.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.