Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Well, Matt today's your birthday and of course you are on my mind today. I miss you so much. I hope your parents are doing okay today I was hoping I would have time to go by there today and say hi, plus take my new beautiful baby girl Karlee to meet them. She is almost 6 months now and I wish she could have known you. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers today. Linda and Jess you both have always been speacial to me and I do think of you often even though I don't make it to Harriman much. Next time I'm there I will bring Karlee to meet you guys. Jessica I know we never were close but we did know each other and I did have fun with you at Morrison Hill Youth events we had. I remember our trip to Gatlinburg one year that was alot of fun. Matt of course goofed off the whole trip but that was normal. Jenny I only met you once or twice but you always seemed special and I wish I had gotten to know you better. Matt you are missed so much and will always be remembered. Love ya, Jennifer Cronan

Friend

May 11, 2007

To Matt's mama, as it's Matt's birthday he'll be looking down on you and waiting for at least one smile.May he be able to send you a rainbow.

May 11, 2007

Happy Birthday Matt You are still very much loved and you are not or will not be forgotten

Vicki Puckett

May 10, 2007

It's hard to believe that 28 years ago I didn't even know if I would be bringing a boy or a girl home when I went to the hospital. How you changed my life. I can still feel you even now as they laid you on my stomach and the dr. said "you have a BIG boy". Bodine came in the shop this morning and was looking at a picture of you and said, that boy looks like his momma. Remember when you were about two and I put you in a pretty baby contest, you had the most beautiful head of curls and big smile, and your little personality was just a smaller version of when you were big. You came in second to some little kid dressed in a sailor suit. We always laughed because I never put Jenny or Jessica in a contest like that :).

I love you so much Matthew.

More than the world,
forever and always,
to eternity and beyond.

Momma

May 10, 2007

Thank you Kimberly for this lastest story about Matt. Thank you to everyone that comes to this page to remember Matt. There are no more new stories to be made, but there are still so many out there to be told that every time one appears here it is another treasure for us to hold on to and keep in our hearts. I love them all. He did have a unique way of living his life didn't he. I miss experiencing life in the whirlwind that was Matthew, I just miss Matthew. Matt's birthday is coming up in a few days. What was once one of the happiest days of my life is now one of the hardest to get through. We will be flying to Washington the day after his birthday to take part in Police Week again honoring all officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty. Just know that your stories, your words, your memories, help keep us going, and mean more than we could ever tell you. Thanks for remembering Matthew and his life,and for telling his stories.

Matt's Mom

May 3, 2007

I was a young nurse at the local hospital with a patient from the jail. Matt was sitting with him most of the time he was there. The guy was pretty scary, but Matt just made jokes the entire time he was there. He was hilarious. When it came time to discharge the guy, we had a problem. He was in a full lower body cast. Instead of calling an abulance, he said... "I'll take him back, just give me a little while to get it worked out"

A little while later, he pulled into the alley with a Suburban (I think) and helped me get this guy loaded into it. It was funny! We had him on sheets and pulled him into the vehicle. I thought he was going to break his casts off of him!! He even brought me the sheets back in a little while. Just another example of him going ABOVE AND BEYOUND the call of duty. He was a hoot!!!

Kimberly

May 2, 2007

I miss you Matthew.

April 27, 2007

talk about being weird, looking over at a staff meeting and seeing your dad there and he being welcomed to the dept as a Patrolman. dont worry we will take care of him and we will try and get him to the same stuff we got into

John and Christy
HPD

April 26, 2007

I thought of you and Granny this morning as I was getting ready for work. I'm sure you two are keeping each other entertained. Love and miss you always.

Marta Nichols
Aunt

April 18, 2007

Your momma riding around in a patrol car... I just somehow know you were smiling down on her, laughing with her, seeing her joy that the Marathon was such a great success.

friend
HPD employee

April 16, 2007

HiMatthew!
I miss all the pranks we would pull on people.
Anyway,i love ya!
your little cous',
Olivia

little cousin.Olivia
our funny pranks & jokes

April 14, 2007

Hey Baby Boy,

Well, tomorrow is the big race. I know you have seen us laughing our heads off... going over every detail...in detail...a thousand times; confusing ourselves more than when we started. Sometimes Benny just comes out of his office and looks at us, sometimes he speaks,:). There are a million things I could write about tonight but just know, always, always, you are in the middle of everything I do. I love you more than the world Son of My Life.

Momma

April 13, 2007

Matt, It's just too funny. Kasey said it was you and I believe him. I told him I was going to post it so everybody would know what happened. Yesterday, his first day back...finally in his very own police car alone...HE HAD TO GET TOWED IN. He was on a call and his radiator hose got a big hole in it. Car smoked like crazy. Your mom was at the station and we were working on the Marathon when the call came in. We did you proud, me and your momma laughed (loudly I might add) the whole time it was going on. Poor Kasey was such a good sport about it, he let us have our fun.

Karen B. Joseph
Harriman Police Department

March 28, 2007

Hey Matt
Well we had the first road block to help build the Memorial today. I was with your Mom the whole time i was there. I know you don't need to be told this, but she is a wonderful person. we had a good time, and it was good to see her laughing. Jessica came out to help, and she was at another intersection. This woman drove up to me and in a real gruff voice said " There is a child over there without a traffic vest on, and she needs one" I looked over and Jessica was the only "child" i could see so i took my traffic vest over to her and explained what the woman had said. I asked your mom how old she was and found out she is a 26 year old child. We all had a good laugh about that. I have no idea how much we collected, but i think it was good. I think its great that your parents are trying to build the fallen officers memorial for Roane County. We have a Memorial for soldiers who fought for our Country, Its time we have a Memorial for Officers who fought to keep our Cities and County safe. Keep watching over us

Troy Wright
Kingston Police Dept

March 24, 2007

I think of you everyday, and i miss you so much. Everytime i watch the guy on a bicycle video i laugh until i cry, it makes me miss you and your laugh alot. You meant alot to alot of people, especially me. I will never forget you and i will see you again buddy.

Eric Majors
friend and former co-worker

March 23, 2007

Matt,
I often reflect on the memories of you while at the academy. The many times you made me laugh and brought a smile to my face. Looking through the many reflections you touched many lives. There is not a day that goes by and I think of you while I am working my shift.

Officer Barry Mosier
Bells Police Dept.

March 16, 2007

Matthew, son of my life, how are things in heaven this morning? Do you watch us and just shake your head sometimes, do you laugh at our craziness that actually helps keep us sane, do you ask God to help us when we lose it like I did in Reno's yesterday standing among all the little and big boy baseball stuff. Crazy questions, I know.... because I know you do....you do all that and more, just like you always did.....you and your love keep us going until we are all back together again.

Can you believe this marathon thing!!!!!! We have so many sponsors to put on the t-shirt I thought Reno was going to fall out of his chair when I told him ! Remember how I never came to the pd while you worked there........that was your territory and I really would never have dreamed of going down there for anything, now I am down there so much I can hardly stand it when I am not there. Chief is very gracious, and Karen, well you know, she laughs AND cries with me. We mostly try to laugh, because that is what you would want us to do.

Matthew I love you and miss you more than the world, but I am trying to always honor your memory, and support the boys here and make you proud.

Momma

March 15, 2007

Matt I havent been on here in awhile..I just wanted to let you know that I have not forgot you. I have a picture of you in my living room and it brings a smile to my face no matter how bad the day may have been. I seen your mom back before Christmas she is such a wonderful loving person! We all miss and love you.

Vicki Puckett

March 9, 2007

Hey Baby Boy,

Just wanted to tell you how much I love you.
We're getting ready to head over to Ethan's birthday party. Can you believe he is 8 years old!? He came into the shop the other day on the actual date of his birthday, the 28th, and was telling me about his party at school and what all was happening and then he said "something else happened on this day eight years ago"........I thought a minute and then I said what was that? He jumped up and shouted "Uncle Matt's car blew up on his way to see me being born at the hospital!!!!" I said, OH MY GOSH, YOUR'RE RIGHT, I'M SO GLAD YOU REMINDED ME!" We all started laughing and remembering that day. Every story is a treasure. ( You are a treasure). Jessica went to the store that evening and bought him a model car of the "Chevelle", as close as we could get to yours ,and we snuck it into their house while everyone was asleep so he would have it on his birthday. It was funny and great.

We miss you so much, words cannot convey how much. But you are always in the middle of our lives, and hearts, always.

Momma

March 3, 2007

Where do I start by trying to explain what happened today? As you know, your dad is going to be one of the department reserve officers. So today he comes in so I can fingerprint him. After about 3 fingers we decide he is doing good enough to do it by himself. He gets to his pointing left hand finger and lifts it us and says, "Wow, that (the fingerprint) says Matt." CLEARLY it says Matt. No doubt about it. I'm thinking this can't possibly be, no way, no how. Angie comes in my office and sees the same thing we are seeing. She says, "Matt is up there laughing saying, I got em going now." We're laughing and crying at the same time. I'm calling everybody in the office to look without even telling them what we see, we ask what they see. Jason and Benny see it immediately and so does Mark. Jessica sees it and so does your mom. Needless to say it was an overwhelming moment! I do have to say that Chief only saw ATT for a minute until somebody pointed out the M and John thought it said BRAT so we all got a laugh out of that. I do have pictures that I took so all can see it. We know you're still here. Ok, so you "got us". Thanks, what a day.

Karen B. Joseph
Harriman Police Department

February 27, 2007

You'll never believe this but I'm finally going to Ireland. I'm leaving Sept. 13 and will be gone for 2 weeks or more. I remember us talking about how you wouldn't mind living in Europe for awhile..living in Scotland. When I get there, I'm going to find one of the Celtic crosses and I'm going to set your picture and pin beside it. I miss you man!

Amanda Redmon

February 26, 2007

Hey bro, Ive been thinking about you alot lately. Especially today when your mom brought me a cake for my b-day. I am proud to be your friend. I am also proud to be a friend of your family. I miss you bro, keep us safe.

February 21, 2007

Matt,
What a wonderful person you were. Too bad everyone didn't know you. The world is a lot better for you being in it for such a short time. I talked to your Momma the other day, she brought me a card with the cross inside. It means some much to me. I drive down the road with my guardian angel (you) and my cross to protect me, ever. Thank you for being my friend. I have tried to write many time and get to reading the memories , and the tears begin...... You know when we have that "Great Reunion Day" just seeing you will make it much greater. I love you, Matt. Love Bea

February 17, 2007

Matt,

Some guys and I were talking the other day about funny things that happen on patrol and so many stories of you came to mind. Remember the ghosts at the papermill? Your in so many people's memories. Brother, stay strong on heaven's beat. Lift our family's spirts up. I can only imagine how hard it is for them to live without you everyday.

Tony Ruff
Roane County Sheriff's Office

February 9, 2007

I have probably looked at your page a couple dozen times in the past month. I start to write something, but somehow the words I want to say don't come to me. Some days the emotions just seem too overwhelming. It is February now, and as each day comes I smile as I think of the millions of memories we share(each so WONDERFUL!!). Still, days pass when I would give anything to see your smile, hear your laugh, feel your arms around me in a giant hug, have you tell me everything will be okay. The world somehow doesn't seem complete without you on it. Some days the memories are not enough; some days the memories save me. I carry you in my heart always as do the many others that love you and lost you. Your mom's strength amazes me; I believe her love was your greatest blessing on this earth. How amazing to have had such a bond. I know you watch over her everyday. I know you watch over us all. Thank you for every smile you put on my face, thank you for every moment we spent together, thank you for sometimes making me feel like the most amazing woman in the world, thank you for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself, thank you for showing me the joy of life, and thank you for reminding me everyday that there is something greater beyond this world we live in. I love you always.

February 2, 2007