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Friday, December 24

Matt's Obituary in the Herald Times

Here is Matt's Obituary. Chris Hosler worked with Matt's family to write it. It is beautiful. I have added it here, for those who are not able to log into the Hoosier Times website.

Matthew Robert Hardie, 32

JULY 28, 1978 — DEC. 14, 2010

SPOKANE, Wash. — Matthew Robert Hardie passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at Hospice in Spokane, Washington, after a heroic effort to overcome his injuries. He was the son of Michael and Anne (Bobbitt) Hardie, born on July 28, 1978, in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Matt attended elementary and middle school in Columbia, Missouri, and moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where he attended Bloomington High School South, graduating in 1996. He attended the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

Traveling and experiencing life in new places was one of Matt’s favorite activities. Matt moved from Bloomington to Spokane, Washington, in 1998, and from there called places such as Portland, Oregon; and Scottsdale and Prescott, Arizona home. He visited countless cities across the country as far flung as New Orleans and Fairbanks, Alaska. Matt spent several happy summers at Homes for the Homeless’ Camp Kiwago in upstate New York, working with homeless children from New York City. He returned to Spokane earlier in 2010.

Matt touched many, many lives in his travels, delighting his friends with his infectious sense of humor and setting an example of active social consciousness. Matt had a lifelong love of reading, and was always one of the most knowledgeable and well-spoken participants in a debate. He was also a paramount example of fortitude in the face of adversity, having overcome non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was an avid music fan, and part of the music scene wherever he happened to be. He loved cycling, was a member of the Beanpole collective, and enjoyed acting in high school in Theatre South and in Monroe County Civic Theater, as well as in sketch comedy television. Some of his friends knew him for decades and others for only a few weeks, but all were touched by his warmth, upheld by his support, and brightened by his sweet smile.

Matt is survived by his fiercely loving sister, Katherine Hardie and her partner Bo Baker, both of Spokane, WA; his nephew, Jack Baker of Spokane, WA; his adoptive stepfather, Rich Waltrip of Spokane, WA; his aunt Susi Schumaker of Overland Park, KS; and numerous other aunts and uncles.

Matt is preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial pitch-in will be held at The Bishop, 123 S. Walnut St., Bloomington IN, Monday December 27, 2010, from 7-10 p.m. for friends and family.

At the family’s request in lieu of flowers, condolences and monetary gifts for future donations to causes dear to Matt can be given at Matt’s blog, http://matthardie.blogspot.com.

2 comments:

kat8eyes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Libby Katz Hogan said...

I wish I had checked this yesterday. I hope it was a full and meaningful service yesterday, and that there was lots of laughter in sharing memories of Matt and what an incredible individual he was.