Matt Cummins

family on Saturday, November 26th, 2022. Born in the summer of 1963, Matt grew up in

Missouri but was an avid Kansas Jayhawks fan and spent many evenings cheering for his favorite basketball team. He began a career in the optical industry in 1980 and was employed for the last 26 years at Walman Optical, where his colleagues described him as "someone who was known to take extra steps to make people feel special." In 2020, Matt earned the President’s Choice Award for excellence in action during the pandemic. He retired as Vice President of Operations in early 2022. Matt met the love of his life, Mary, while working at Langley Optical in 1980. Even after 39 years of being married, he still saw her as "the little 21-year-old in the red checked shirt with the face that changed my life." They were married on April 14, 1983. He was a devoted father to Cory, Michael, and Amanda. As they grew up, he coached baseball and Pop Warner football, but most importantly, he instilled in them a strong moral ethic. He described his children as "making his heart burst with pride in the people they have become." His five grandchildren, Macenna, Lillian, Tyler, Colton, and Bennett, were his world. They will miss riding four wheelers and swimming at "Nana and Papa’s pool" with him. Matt was preceded in death by his parents, Omalee and Bill Cummins. He is survived by his wife, Mary; their three children, Cory (Rick) Cummins, Michael (Elizabeth) Cummins, and Amanda (Jason) Zern; five grandchildren; his sister, Michelle (Jerry) Wilson; and three brothers, Mike, Steve, and Mitch Cummins. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his faithful dog, Jo Jo. Matt appreciated barbeque, the Kansas City Chiefs, and working on carpentry projects in "Papa’s Shop." Riding his Harley was another favorite pastime, as it gave him a sense of freedom. Matt fought cancer courageously and with an optimistic spirit. The relentlessness of the disease could not curtail his enthusiasm for life, as he fought until the very end. His family is comforted knowing that he is at peace now, riding his Harley all over Heaven and reveling in his freedom. The family would like to thank the oncology department at The University of Kansas Hospital, Cornerstone Hospice and Newcomer’s Floral Hills Funeral Home for their dedication to Matt’s fight. A visitation will be at Newcomer’s Floral Hills Funeral home at 7000 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64133 on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 1:00pm-2:00pm. Followed by a service at Newcomer’s Floral Hills Funeral home at 7000 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64133. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Matt’s favorite quote was "The world is full of good people; if you don’t see one, be one." He emulated this in life, and in honor of Matt, be a good person today and every day