Shorty was born on April 23, 1976. Surrounded by family and friends, he passed away from earth to his heavenly home on April 29, 2019. He was 43 years old.

From a young age, Shorty loved to operate heavy equipment and machinery, thus leading to his dedication to his job of twenty years with the Union Parish Police Jury. He made lifelong friends while working with this group, especially his "partner in crime", Lane Rugg.

After five years of dating, he married the love of his life, Kam, on December 18, 2004 and they began to build a wonderful life together. He had found the one that his soul loved, a partner and best friend for life. Although time together was too short, their love for one another was fierce. His heart for family was remarkable. He enjoyed eating lunch at his mama and daddy's, spending time with his nephews and loved being a "Grumps" to Leila and Haven.

They say friends are your chosen family and Shorty loved hanging out with his friends and their kids. He captured the hearts of many and was a very special "uncle" to Carlee and Reid McCrary, Braxton, Henley and Hartley Patterson and Bryanna Farrar.

Shorty was very devoted and loyal to his friends and family. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. He loved to visit. There is no telling how many hours of "shop talk" have been logged in his lifetime. He's left a void in the hearts of his family and friends that can only be filled with memories of love and laughter. To know Shorty was to love him.

Shorty was a "piddler". He spent hours in his shop working on anything he could get his hands on. He loved to cook outside and spent many summers working in his garden. With his Farmer's Almanac and his rain gauge he could make plans to grow anything. He got his green thumb from his mama.

Most important, was the love he had for the Lord. Shorty attended Salem Baptist Church and had recently been getting to know the Bible and the Lord very well. A very special thank you goes out to Bro. Aleck Nygaard and Bro. Kurt Auger for shining the light in a way for Shorty to see how the power of God can work in a man's life. Shorty took that notion whole heartedly and ran straight into the arms of his Savior. As Christians we can rest easy that we will see him again one day.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, John B. and Frances B. Matthews; George and Ruth Lee, and cherished brother, Freddy Todd Matthews.

Loving memories will always be held in the hearts of his survivors: his wife of fourteen years, Kamala Roan Matthews; parents Jerry and Mary Matthews; nephews John Bradley and Sam Matthews; friend and nephew in law Jimmy Roan and wife Kym and the ninja's Haven and Leila and his devoted fur babies, Duchess and Gracie.

Services celebrating Shorty's life will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Salem Baptist Church in Farmerville. Officiating the service will be Bro. Aleck Nygaard and Bro. Kurt Auger. Graveside services will be held at Mt. Patrick Cemetery in Bernice, LA under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from 5 PM until 8 PM at Salem Baptist Church.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Chance Canterberry, Tracy Farrar, Brian Greenham, Jay Hollis, Ronald McCrary, Heath Patterson, Nick Taylor and Heath Wood.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Madison Averitt, Deacon Haacks, Rich Lee, Dwight Long, Sonny Moon, Jimmy Roan, Lane Rugg, Greg Wainwright, Robert Williams and The Crew at Tucker Steel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shorty's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.