Birth date: Mar 18, 1975 Death date: Nov 15, 2023
Matthew Douglas Garrett, affectionately known as Matt or Mr. G., passed away on November 15, 2023, at the age of 48 in Rogers, Arkansas. He was born on March 18,1975, in Ruston, Louisiana, the son of Donald and Patricia O’Gorman G Read Obituary
I have so many wonderful memories of working with Matt at Old Wire Elementary. I saw first hand how he inspired his students and his fellow teachers. My heart is broken. You were one of a kind, Matt. Peace to his memory.
Our Matt distinguished himself early on in life as he was the only dark-haired baby in a family of redheads. Matt developed an early interest in science and nature as he spent many hours as a student in his Mamaw's Ding Dong School. Then he headed off to first grade. He was concerned about how to address his first grade teacher who happened to be his mother. Although he had been assured that 'Mom' would be just fine, his anxiety grew when one of his classmates admonished him for calling his teacher mom.
Matt was a gentle man. His size could be imposing but his soul was kind and gentle. Around the age of six, his friends played with BB guns or air rifles. After receiving one, he headed out on a hunt and shot and wounded a cardinal. He caught the wounded bird and immediately took it to his grandmother who helped him nurse it back to health and returned it to the wild. The gun rusted away in an old barn never to be fired again. Any fallen animal, bug, bird, fish or fowl, Matt would nurture and return to nature. He cherished his beloved rescued cats Mulder and Scully and others who needed a home.
In his preteen years, Matt's attention turned to music and art. Matt was the only one of our four siblings who refused to take piano lessons, sitting under the piano bench during his first and last attempt. Ironically, he is the only one of the four who played the piano, drums and guitar. He was self-taught. While his friends were listening to the Smashing Pumpkins, Matt was playing his guitar to the music of the Byrds the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.
Matt loved his family. We could count on Matt to enliven any family gathering, especially for his niece and nephews.
At one family gathering, Matt arrived with a huge elastic slingshot. He and the children entertained themselves by blasting an abandoned house with potatoes and eggs. Matt was creative and fun to be with.
Matt could also be very insightful and contemplative often expressing his thoughts in a painting he called Futility. The painting depicted a bedraggled old Confederate soldier astutely marching around in a circle on a very small island guarding an old worn battered Confederate flag with nothing but sea breezes for companionship.
Matt found the love of his life, Jenny. A beautiful life together but just not long enough. Jenny, being more serious of the two, patiently put up with Matt's antics always going along but often just rolling her eyes. Together they created a loving life and a warm home with a yard filled with fruit trees and many varieties of flowers.
So now, we say farewell to Matt but not to all his memories. He knew he was loved but it is heartbreaking to think this wasn't enough. You are all around us, Matt, and our love for you will be everlasting.
Mom and Dad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGcwHYysc3c
A light has gone out in our world
And a new light,
A STAR,
Shines in our Universe
Perhaps the light Matt bore in our midst
Was too intense, too bright, too comprehensive
To be contained within the constraints
Of our more limited vision.
"Ever On" Matt...
