Matthew was born in Fresno on April 2, 1960. From this day he enriched the lives of everyone who had the pleasure to know him. As a teen, Matt was involved with the Special Olympics and won several medals in swimming. He was like a fish when he entered the water and it was sometimes difficult to get him out.
Matt loved Elvis, and did an awesome impersonation of him. He performed singing Elvis tunes at all of the family gatherings with willing sisters and nieces acting as backup singers, or giddy fans in the audience. He always said he was the "New King of Rock-n-Roll."
Matt was charismatic and loved to make friends. While grocery shopping with his mother, he would chat with the cashiers and help to bag groceries, this soon landed him a job at SaveMart where he worked for 15 years as a service clerk.
Matt was zealous in his spirituality and served as an altar boy and Eucharistic Minister at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center for many years.
"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." Khalil Gibran
On January 23, 2014, Matthew left our world to meet up with his father, Ted; his brother, Ted Jr.; his sister, Patricia Marie; and all of his grandparents.
He leaves behind his loving and devoted mother, Betty; his adoring and dedicated sister Cathy Gray, who selflessly cared for him these past seven months, along with her husband Bill; his ardent sister, Lourdine Skillin and his niece Madison, who were also committed to his care; his sister, Mary Cheary who traveled weekly to offer support and respite and her husband John; his brothers, Kelly and his wife Jan, Rick and his wife Jackie, Stephen and his wife Sheryl; brother-in-law, Roger Skillin; his sisters, Barbara Thornton, Anita Dempsey and her husband Alan; sister-in-law, Teresa Beshwate as well as 21 nieces and nephews; and 25 great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Clovis Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to St. Paul Catholic Newman Center or Optimal Hospice Care.
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