Matthew David Skeens

Matthew David Skeens, 16, of Kansas City, Mo., passed on October 29, 2010, while enjoying life with friends near LaCygne, Kan. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 11 East 40th Street (corner of 40th and Main), Kansas City, MO 64111 with a memorial celebration immediately following at Indian Hills Country Club.

Matt, beloved son of David and Melissa Skeens and brother of Rachael, was born April 26, 1994, in Overland Park, Kan. Matt lived his whole life with his family in Kansas City, attending St. Paul's Episcopal Day School and Pembroke Hill. Matt is an Eagle Scout from Troop 16 and a Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, an acolyte at St. Paul's, an honor student and a member of the Pembroke basketball and golf teams. Matt always lived in the moment, happy to be doing whatever he was doing at the time and had a big heart to go with his height. He loved hanging with his family and friends, hunting with his father, playing games, cooking and watching movies with his mom and sister, and cheering on his Missouri Tigers.

Matt was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mary K. Skeens. To cherish his memories and celebrate his life, he leaves his parents, Melissa and David and sister, Rachael, Granna Melba Haynes and PaPa Charles R. Haynes and wife Brenda, grandfather, Milton D. Skeens and his dear friend Catherine, aunt, Tish Sloan and husband Wes, aunt, Ellen Fairchild, husband Brian and cousins John and Katie, and a host of other family, many, many friends, and Harper the Wonder Dog.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Matthew Skeens Memorial Fund in care of Missouri Bank, 1044 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105 which will be used to honor his memory through local charitable activities.