Obituary: Matthew Reed Smith

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 3, 2005

Matthew Reed Smith "Gift from God" Matthew was born premature on August 8, 1980. He started this life fighting for his first breath and passed on January 26, 2005 honorably fighting for his country. He was killed along with 30 others in a helicopter crash in Korean Village, Iraq. Matthew started his mission serving our country in October, 2001.

He was based out of Kaneoha Bay, Hawaii and served in many areas including the following: Camp Pendleton, CA, Phillippines, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Kuwait and Iraq. He had the greatest love for life. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, guns and his favorite of all, milk. He touched the lives of all those he came in contact with. Even though Matt is our hero, his heroes are his two brothers, Spencer and Cory. Survived by parents: Gary (Laura Jackson) Smith and Colleen (Stanley Richard) Parkin; brothers: Spencer (Kristy and daughter, Alisa) Smith and Cory (Andrea) Smith; and many other family and friends. Preceded in death by his grandfather, Reed Emery Smith; grandmother, Margie Stauffer Frenette. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 5, 2005, 12:00 noon at the Jordan Stake Center, 3700 South 4700 West. Friends may visit the family Friday, February 4, 2005, 6-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road and Saturday, February 5, 2005, 10:45-11:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery. Please remember Matt with us by visiting www.remembermatt.com Semper Fi