Matthew Dean Garrett

He was born on December 5, 1971, in Peoria, Illinois to Jack Henry and Linda Marie (McCartney) Garrett.

He is survived by his loving mother, Linda Marie Garrett; his sister, Angela (Vincent) Staub; their children, Brittany (Joe) Welch, Joshua Staub, and Luke (Shelby) Staub and his cherished great nieces and nephews, Garrett, Grace, Gwendolyn, and Georgia Welch, and Landon, Dawson, and Jackson Staub. He also leaves a dear friend, Christine Dodillet.

Matt was preceded in death by his father and his brother, Joel Henry Garrett.

Matt lived vibrantly, expressing his deep passions for art, music, nature, gardening, cooking, and medicinal plants through his paintings, journaling, and time spent outdoors in nature.

A proud 1990 graduate of Richwoods High School, where he excelled as an all-state wrestler, Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois in January 1995. Early in his career, he worked as a financial advisor for Accenture and later found joy in gardening, painting, and working outside for others. Matt also enriched his community by volunteering at Trewyn School, teaching children art - a passion that brought him immense fulfillment. He devoted meaningful time to his niece and nephews, nurturing their curiosity, broadening their perspectives, and helping shape the people they would become.

A celebration of Matt’s life will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur. Private inurnment will be held in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

Matt lived by these timeless words, often attributed to Plato: “The most important thing in life is not to have the most, but to need the least.”

Memorial contributions may be made to Pets for Seniors, 3809 North Sterling Avenue, Peoria, IL 61605 or www.petsforseniors.org

To express condolences online, visit www.Preston-Hanley.com