Skip to content

Apr 19, 1935 - Apr 21, 2018
Matt was born on April 19th, 1935 in the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C. and passed away on April 21st, 2018 in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital at the age of 83 years.  

Matt was preceded in death by his parents, Evan and Agnes and his brother Doug. He leaves behind his beloved wife Pat and seven children, Ila (Alan, who died in 2013), Yvonne (Cliff), Doug (Linda), Casey (Kim), Haven (Kristy), Todd (Lisann) and James (Sherry); sixteen grandchildren, Jody (Bob), Justin (Lianne), Cody (Sarah), Josh (Samantha), Christy, Heather, Matthew (Lori), Evan (Marissa), Courtney, Cameron, Robyn (D'Arcy), Samantha (Travis), Morgan (Alissa), Emily, Jordyn (Josh) and James; ten great-grandchildren, Gaelan, Ebony, Ivory, Jon, Hailey, Pyper, Bryce, Meadow, Mariya and Reed; Pat's children, Todd and Wade (Nova) and their children, Mika and Finley.

Matt lived a very full life. He did his best to raise seven children with integrity and morals and had many interests, one of the most important to him was working with horses. He trained many reining and cutting horses and also broke numerous draft horses and mules to drive and pull logs out of the bush. 

One of his first jobs at the age of eight was riding his horse to school early in the morning and filling the wood heater. We are sure that he probably said that he rode uphill both ways!  In his early years Matt lived and worked in farming and logging up around Burns Lake. That is where he married Louise, the mother of his children. 

Matt also did packing up around Tweedsmuir Park. He enjoyed playing the accordion and played for many a dance in Cheslatta. Some of his many jobs throughout the years were managing ranches where he trained horses, milked cows and grew hay. He worked as a janitor at the High School in Midway, B.C., owned Kettle Valley Redi Mix in Rock Creek, B.C., horse logging with Waylon, Willy and Bell and was Regional Director of Area "E". 

He retired and moved to Salmon Arm, where he owned a small farm. Matt then moved to Falkland where he met Pat. They married and lived happily in Falkland where he owned a small Harness Shop and played with training a few more horses and thoroughly enjoyed going to the local rodeos and puttering around in his garden.

In respecting Matt's wishes, he was cremated and there will be no Funeral Service held.

Cremation arrangements were made with BETHEL FUNERAL CHAPEL LTD., 5605-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5, 250-542-1187.



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.