Order of Celebration

· Acoustic music – How Deep The Father’s Love
Mark

· Mark – Officiating Family Member:

We are here today to celebrate the life of Matthew Ryan Walker. I have been honored to represent our family in today’s celebration.

MATTHEW RYAN WALKER was born November 9, 1981, to THOMAS AND JANIE WALKER, and brother of BRYAN WALKER. Matt left to be with GOD: AUGUST 14, 2009.

He is survived by his mother, father, brother, grandmothers and many aunts, uncles’ cousins, friends and family members.

Matt was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He lived in Atlanta, Toronto Canada, Vancouver Canada, Washington State (many times), Tennessee, Mississippi (many times), Colorado (many times), Alaska (many times), Oregon on multiple occasions, Hawaii, and places too numerous to list.

When we say that he lived here or there, that is not the point. The point is that he lived wherever he was in that moment. He was a man of adventure. He never met a stranger. He did not care if you were a man, woman or a child. He befriended them all. He never judged the person on mental or physical capability, nor status in the community. He saw the good in every stranger that he encountered. He was a “man’s man”. He could do anything that was needed at any time. He worked hard and played harder.

If we even attempted to list his occupations, it would take an hour and we would miss many. However, his passion jobs were snowboard instructing and Alaskan hunting and fishing guiding. This was because he was being paid for what he loved to do. Paying me for my passions? If only they knew that I would have done this for three meals and a cot?
What were his occupations, you might ask? His reply to potential employers, what do you need done? Upon receiving the answer, he would reply that whatever they were hiring for was just what he does. He could do most anything needed and out work anyone around.
It is a good thing that a potential employer was not looking for a brain surgeon. This is because he would have taken the job and “just figured it out”.
When you watch “The World’s Most Dangerous Jobs” and you see the most dangerous of all, commercial fishing in Alaska, he had done this with pride several times.
· He had dived for grouper in Hawaii, while living in a tent
on the beach.
· He had framed houses in Oregon, roofed houses in
Colorado; Oregon and Mississippi.
· He canned fish in Alaska, flew into the villages and oil
fields of Alaska to provide electricity by generators.
· He opened fly-in fishing camps in Alaska where he was
alone, hundreds of miles from the closest road. In
camp, while fishing, he did have to swat a Grizzly
bear in the nose, with a fly rod, for survival.
Fortunately the bear did not swat back.

He was an honor role college student (on occasions.) So, we have now scratched the surface of what he did for life’s work. He was always looking for the next adventure. Employment was simply a life support system for adventure. If you have food and housing, I’ll probably work for you, if you are located in Paradise.

Who was Matt Walker? I think that you get a hint of the man. He played and worked hard and loved deeply. He was a people person, full of life. He touched thousands of lives. He deeply loved his family but, had plenty of love left for everyone that he met. His beauty was in the beauty of God’s creations, especially water, mountains, snow, all wild creatures and dogs.

Some of you have met his best friend here today. Her name is Shelby. Some see her as a black lab. He saw her as his best friend and love of his life. Shelby has much of Matt’s personality. This is due, in part, to their many adventures together. Those of you that knew Matt well are shaking your heads in agreement; those that do not are shaking your in amazement. Now, “the rest of the story” will be told over the years to come. Let us proceed with this Celebration of Matthew Ryan’s Life!

· Psalm 23 - Mark

· Prayer - Mark
· Song(s) – “When I Get Where I’m Going”
(Brad Paisley)
· Speakers:

1. Bernie Dearman – Matt Walker - my hero 10 minutes

· Song(s) Not Every Man Lives – (Jason Aldean)

2. Jon - 10 minutes – Matt’s last 90 days

· Meeting Matt, Instant knowledge of potential, willing to do anything, top salesman beginning to end, friend, loved by all including customers, CPR, difficulties with life’s trials – rededicated of his life, great friendship, plans for fun and fellowship. Luke 18:17 “I tell you the truth, anyone that will not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will not enter it.” If there was ever a strong man with the heart of a child, I was Matt Walker!Short interim Prayer

· I Can Only Imagine

3. Mark speak to the family sharing words of comfort to the
family and friends:Matthew 5:4 says “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

We have come to this place today for a very important purpose, that we might openly acknowledge our love for Matt. We have also come together to openly acknowledge our support for this family. For Matt we don't have to worry about him, we will miss him greatly but he is in a wonderful place with the King of Kings the Lord Jesus Christ. He has no pain and he has found the true meaning of Joy and happiness. As for the family, we can only offer our love, thoughts, and our prayers as they do for you.

In times like these, we are fortunate to have the Word of God as a resource and has stood the test of time. Psalms 46 speaks to that which is being felt here today. READ PSALMS 46: 1-3, 6b, 8, 10,11.

We realize how limited we are as humans. But if we are still, we can hear the voice of God. He is also our strength. His strength can help us bridge the change which has suddenly overwhelmed us. There is no circumstance in our life beyond God's ability to help. "Be still and know that I am God." We have a tendency to say well I should have done more or I should have done this or that. Romans 8: 35 says, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Verse 39: nothing can separate us from the love of God. Think about how much you love Matt and know that God loves you unconditionally.

· Music: Aunt JoAnna – Great Is Thy Faithfulness























· I have been asked to read this letter from Matt’s family:

1. Matt would have preferred a celebration of life, instead of a gathering of sadness. Let us honor his wishes with a celebration and as stories are told – and understandably as our eyes mist over – our hearts can still be lifted.

2. Tell your children and loved ones how much you love them in every conversation as if it might be the last.
These words leave us with a peace instead of saying “I wish that I had?

3. In our family, when we parted our last words to each other are always... “I love you.”
These are the last words, from Matt, that will be with us always. I assure you that this is providing a great peace to each of us, as we feel our loss.

4. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, in the good times and especially in troubling times.
Always strive to build them up, even when you might be disappointed in their actions. Give them their own time to heal. Sometimes resolution and forgiveness takes years. Sometimes we have the years; sometimes there is not enough time.
5. Empathy is mentally walking in someone else’s shoes and seeing how they might view the situation. Using empathy will help us to understand other people’s views and pains. Stop and empathize before responding or speaking.

6. Unkind words can not be “un-spoken”, or withdrawn, and much like a sword drawn from its sheath...can inflict severe wounds if not near fatal blows. Never draw the sword and never inflict wounds of words that may take ages to heal, if ever, or leave unnecessary and deep scars.

7. We have memory after memory, about what were the positive impacts Matthew had in untold numbers of lives. And yes, this does help us cope with the grief of losing someone so special to us. Let this celebration bring those who are coping closer together. But as we lovingly remember Matt, let’s love one another as we loved him.

8. It has been said that happiness is external...but that joy comes from within.
It is impossible to be happy in such a time of sadness... but yet it remains possible to have this inward joy come out of each of us as we remember Matt and what he meant to each one of us individually.
9. Let Matt listen to the stories we speak and come to the realization that he has made a difference on this earth.
Let him know that he has enriched our lives with the stories of his adventures and his extreme zeal for life.
10. Please develop a stronger resolve to tell those around you how much they mean to you.
Please let those special people, in your lives know just how loved and appreciated they are, not only by your words, but also by your actions.
11. Hold them tight, hug them tighter, and tell them how much they have meant to you.
(This is a MIMI thing).

12. This is all that Matt would have asked of you. Will you please do this in his honor?
We are thankful that he was... and is... our son, our brother, our grandson, our nephew, our cousin, and to you the extended family... a friend.
We thank God for the 27 years that he entrusted Matt to us, from that bundle of joy, to the excitement of adulthood that he has brought into our lives.
13. Do you love someone? Then tell them so!
Has someone been a positive influence in your life? Then tell them so every time that you see them. Life is too short to leave kind words unsaid.
14. It has been said that life is a journey...and no one could ever deny that Matt was one of the most avid of travelers.
I would like to pause and hear from a few of you if at all possible...
15. Each of us remember Matt in our own special way...I’d like to ask you to think about a word or phrase that comes immediately to your mind when you think of the good times with Matt as your friend.
(Is there anyone here that is willing to share a word or thought... anything that came to your mind when you think of Matt.
[pause]
Thank each of you that shared...I know that many could not , even though they really wanted to , and couldn’t speak.
16. Finally, Live a full and exciting life, no matter how many days that you may have presented to you, for they are all numbered.
· Thomas Walker Closing ...
Matthew’s mother, his brother and I again ask that you do these things in honor of the life of Matthew Ryan Walker. Will you this in remembrance of him?
In closing....I’d like you to consider the words of this song ...
“When it’s All Been Said and Done”Thank you for coming to honor Matt and our family