MICHAEL PAUL MATTSON age 82 of Crossville, TN passed away November 28, 2025 surrounded by his family. He was born November 30, 1942 in Catonsville, Maryland the son of Joseph and Martha Mattson.

Michael grew up in the Catonsville orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Catonsville High School where he was a noted cross country runner and much later his son Ken took up that mantle at the same school. He was drafted into the United States Army and switched to the United States Navy.

He was assigned to the newly refitted nuclear Carrier CVN 65 Enterprise as a parachute rigger, then to Air Rescue. He was also a member of the first crew to totally circumvent the globe on a nuclear vessel. The Enterprise was assigned combat duties in Vietnam in 1965. He was wounded in battle and returned home after his tour in Vietnam was over.

He became a telecommunications manager and a founding member of the Crossville Vietnam Veterans of America, becoming a veteran’s advocate. He was also known in the Samoyed dog show world and was an all around man of wisdom as well as an avid hockey and football fan.

He is survived by his wife Paula, sons- Ken and Jeff, daughter- Melinda, nephew- Joseph, nieces- Debbie and Barbara and grandchildren- Bridie, Will and Lila.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister- Sandra.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday January 16, 2026 at 2pm at Hood Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Friday the 16^th from 1pm-2pm one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.