Stories of Matthew

We are celebrating Matt's Birthday. I wonder if he knows how much we are thinking of him. I think he does know. The following is a portion of the eulogy given at Matt's funeral. Bob did a wonderful job. He had us crying and laughing at the same time. 

"Born with a basketball in his hands, Matt loved all sports and things outdoors from his earliest days. Run, wrestle, throw and bat; Matt tested the strength and will of his older siblings from the git-go. He was “The Natural” when it came to anything athletic.

Dad, with a fair amount of pride, tells the T-Ball story of the game when Cory was on the pitcher’s mound with Matt playing first base (most kids were not expected to know that much about the game at T-Ball age). With the bases loaded, the batter hit the teed ball to Cory who immediately threw the ball to Matt at first base for one out; Matt, with the savvy of a seasoned player, threw the ball to third base going for a double play. No one else saw the possibility of the double play (including the third baseman) … thank goodness Matt’s throw was a little high or the third baseman would have been pegged.

 One evening Nan and Gayle were out on a date when Matt took up the challenge from neighbor Mike McKinney to race bikes around the block. The race was going well until Matt and a car collided; Matt did a complete 360 flip and initially landed on his feet … until momentum kicked in and he completed a 450 landing face down … bounced up and was okay.

Cousin Maria (10 days younger than Matt) remembers how great it was to have cousins close by for several years at Offutt AFB and that the Crawford and Egbert kids would play together often. She remembers playing “Starwars” where Matt was always Luke Skywalker (appropriate since he is the defender of those unable to take care of themselves).

1989: Moved to Spokane (Otis Orchards), Washington

Attended Mt View Jr. High

1995: Graduated from East Valley High School

Graduated from 4 years of early morning Seminary

Snowboard; more than just a “boarder,” he also worked at Mt. Spokane, during the summer clearing trails and winter working the lifts. His favorite ski area was Mt Hood, Oregon. Matt found a way to use his snowboard in the “off season” with the family trampoline; he strapped his board on and would then jump on the tramp doing kicks and flips and whatever else an avid nutcase with a snowboard strapped to his feet on a trampoline would do.

4-brother football; intense games played often these very close in age boys as they tore up the backyard with heroic feats of daring and football prowess.

Keith, Elby, Eric, Matt, and Cory

Matt loved the outdoors. He loved fishing, hiking and camping as much as anyone. He would rather sleep outside than indoors almost any night.

Ski-jog; this is an interesting winter “sport” wherein the “skier” hangs on to the bumper of an unsuspecting car on icy, snow-packed roads and “skis” behind it. Matt was not only competent at this daring sport, he also taught it to his baby sister, Jennie.

Potato gun (outlawed by mom … until the boys showed her the gun could launch black walnuts out of the yard; good to go after that).

Matt loved cooking and trying new dishes; one of Mom’s favorites was taking a flat taco shell, putting lettuce on it, sprinkling it with cheese and baking it for a few minutes … which may help explain why Nan is so slender …

Water balloons off the downtown Spokane Parkade – never got caught but had to outrun some law enforcement officers …

Great helper around the house and did a superb job cleaning bathrooms … so long as he had “his” music (alternative) he would work up a storm doing chores.

“His” music; Matt loved to play it and loved to play it loud AND he loved to sing along with it. Of note, pretty much unanimous from all family members chatted with that Matt could not carry a tune. Recognizing this deficiency in his persona, Matt took to “flowing rap” and was pretty good at it. He would start a “song” and hand it off to others to pick up and “flow” with.

Matt was more than just a basketball player, he also doubled as a “life skills coach” to those badly in need of it. Jennie, for example, tells that Matt counseled/coached/advised her to; keep her hair long (guys like it), wear sandals without socks (guys like it), make it big with her singing career and he even loaned her baggy clothes because it looked cool. Matt would go out and shoot hoops with Jennie when no one else would and she loved it.

Matt was compassionate and a peacemaker. He loved everyone; I heard this from everyone 1999: Moved out of the house with brother Cory and several friends

Spent some time in Utah before heading back out to a Pacific West state, this time Oregon

While in Utah he stayed with Heather and Keith. Heather tells the story of Matt going out camping with some friends; he came back the next day looking terrible. When asked why he looked so tired, Matt responded that while staying up late talking in the tent his friends had fallen asleep across his sleeping bag. Not wanting to disturb them to get his gear, he spent a sleepless night while they slept soundly.

In Oregon Matt, always a compassionate person dedicated himself to working for those unable to care for themselves. He worked at the Albertina Kerr Centers taking care of special needs adults since 2003. Matt was more than caregiver, he was also an advocate and protector for those needing it most (truly Luke Skywalker); he even stood up to one of his supervisors for not treating some of the special needs adults as they should have.

Matt, professional and personal care giver, cared for all those around him. He willingly gave himself to helping a special friend through trying times over several years of troubles, trials and surgery. He attended support group sessions with her, cried with her and cared for her following life-changing surgery. Elizabeth is ever so grateful for the time Matt spent her and for the difference he made in her life.

We; parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends; are grateful for the unselfish, compassionate, non-judgmental life Matt shared with us. We are thankful for him sharing his passion for life with us. We are thankful for the lessons he taught us. His life was tragically short, but the joy he left us with will last a lifetime.

May we all learn from Matt in our compassion and love for each other …"

Thank you to friends and family who contributed pictures.