Conrad Matt Matthew Lujan

Matt Lujan quietly left this earth on Saturday, July 11th, 2015 surrounded by his family. Matt was born on January 12th,1963. He was a graduate of Kofa High School and Arizona State University. During the past 20 years, Matt was employed by the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona as the lead networking engineer.

Matt's passion was his children, which he loved greatly and were the highest priority in his life. He enjoyed cooking breakfast for his family, encouraging his kids to drink milkshakes, swimming, listening to Christian Rock music and traveling. He was always ready for a spring training baseball game and never backed down from a challenging hike up Telegraph Pass, Wingate Pass and Tom's Thumb in Scottsdale. Matt looked forward to the summer months camping and fishing with his kids at West Fork in the White Mountains. He was always the first one in the family to call and ask, "What unit are we hunting this year?"

Matt's life is celebrated by: His parents, Conrad and Minnie Lujan; sister, Norrie Higuera; and brother, Michael Lujan. His children: Teja Rae Lujan, Micaela Anne Lujan, Conrad Bracken Lujan, Lyman Matthew Lujan; step children Brittney Joy Sprunk and Derek Gregory Spunk. Numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Services will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Saturday, July 18th. Rosary will be at 9am and holy mass immediately following.

BIOGRAPHY:

Conrad Matthew Lujan was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Matt always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Matt was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Conrad Matthew was born on January 12, 1963 at Parkview Baptist Hospital in Yuma, Arizona. His parents were Conrad and Minnie. Matt was raised in Yuma, Arizona. Always able to express himself well, Matt possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Matt was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Matt was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Matt was raised with two siblings. He had his sister Norrie and brother, Michael. Matt had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Matthew showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Matt enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in baseball, football and basketball. He was a scout. In his spare time he liked Lego, puzzles and Rubik's Cube.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Matt was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Kofa High School in 1981. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Matthew received his Letterman in football and basketball.

Very much like a kid himself, Matt identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Matt was blessed with four children, two daughters, Teja Rae and Micaela Ann, and two sons, Conrad Bracken and Lyman Matthew.

Matt was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Matt’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Matt was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Matt could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was a Head Networking Engineer. He was employed for 20 years at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Matt enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were hunting and fishing, home improvement projects, hiking, biking, gym workouts and boating. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Matt was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Matt played football and basketball. Recreational sports included over-the-line. Matt was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching all types of sport events whenever he got the opportunity.

Matt was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Matt worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. In college, Matt joined the Neuman Club. Throughout his later years, Matt was an active member of the Elk Society.

Matthew held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member St. Anne in Phoenix, Arizona and he was a Crusillista at St. Francis of Assisi in Yuma, Arizona. Matt was involved with the Christian Rock Festivals and Christian Fellowship.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Matt truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included the White Mountains in Arizona, Rocky Point and Ensenada in Mexico and San Diego, CA.

Matt was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Matt’s favorites were Brutus a German Shepherd dog and Pooha Nella a Chihuahua mix. They were best friends for many years, he had Brutus for 14 years and Pooha Nella for 10. His family was rounded out by his other pets, Jake, Molly and Josh.

When Matt’s retirement finally came in 2014, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating back to Yuma, Arizona to be closer to family.

Matt passed away on July 11, 2015 at his parents house in Yuma, Arizona of a heart attack. He is survived by his daughters, Teja Rae and Micaela Ann; his sons, Conrad Bracken and Lyman Matthew; parents, Conrad and Minnie; sister, Norrie Higuera; and his brother, Michael. Services were held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 10:00 am.

Matt was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Matt had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Conrad Matthew Lujan.