Matthew Craig Heaton Sr, 58, of Scottsbluff passed away unexpectedly in his home on September 22, 2023. Cremation was chosen. A Memorial Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 30th, at Mitchell Berean Church with Pastor Greg Carter officiating. A reception will follow at The Emerald Center, 17 West 16th St. Scottsbluff. Casual attire is requested. The family requests that any memorials in Matthew’s name that wish to be given go to The American Diabetic Association.
Matt faced many health challenges his entire life due to childhood diabetes, however he never complained and met everyone who crossed his path with a bit of witty banter and a great joke or two!
Matt was the youngest of four sons born to Gary and Darlene (Portenier) Heaton on August 9th, 1965, in Greeley, Colorado. The family moved to Kimball in 1968 and Matt attended K-12 at Kimball schools, graduating in 1983. Matt attended Western Nebraska Community College on a music scholarship, where he specialized in trombone and vocal performance.
In 1987, he married Shelly Steele from Scottsbluff, and they were blessed with one son, Matthew Jr. Matt was wonderful with people and honed those skills for a career in customer sales and service. A couple of his most enjoyable positions included working with Pay-n-Pak and Z&M Lumber, where he worked for over 16 years. He also enjoyed his most recent position at MBKEM Enterprises, where he was employed at the time of his passing.
Matt’s greatest work and joy was being a devoted father and grandfather to his three grandchildren Joslynn, Jakoby, and Jaylee. They absolutely were the light of his life! Matt continued to enjoy music and had a very impressive musical CD collection, along with enjoying camping and fishing trips with his son, brothers, and his best buddies. Matt was most loved by his friends and family for his wonderful sense of fun, straight talk, loving ways, generosity, and his incredible outlook on life. He was one in a million and will be forever missed!
Matt was preceded in death by his father Gary; brother Barry, and sister-in-law Donna Heaton. Matt is survived by his mother Darlene of Scottsbluff (formally of Kimball); son Matthew and wife Tara; Matt’s grandchildren Joslynn, Jakoby, and Jaylee, all of Scottsbluff; brother Jim and wife Glenda of Greeley, CO; brother Dave of Apache Junction, AZ; sisters-in-law Bonni Heaton of Eureka, MT and Laurie Heaton of Casper, WY.