Matthew Isiah Sanders

Matthew Isiah Sanders, 23, peacefully passed away October 13, 2020. He was born February 10, 1997 in St. Louis, to Matthew and Jenifer Sanders and a large, loving family. He graduated from Parkway Central High School in 2015 and attended Murray State University.

As Matthew grew from a sweet, easy going boy into a teenager, we could see the man that he would become - strong, steadfast and loyal. He was passionate about sports, especially football. While at Parkway Central High School, he played both offense and defense, was a key player on the 2013 team that went to the Missouri State Championship and was a Class 5 first team all-state selection by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and media. He also loved hunting and was so proud when he mounted the antlers from his first deer. He was always competitive, but humble.

We watched as a fun-loving, fiercely loyal friend grew from a teenager into a young man - a young man with so much enthusiasm and with so many plans for the future. Recently, he talked about his new found passion for creating and was just starting to build a custom painted shoe business. He was so happy to have found something he was passionate about, and was also focused on building a career that would be the foundation for future plans he had with his longtime girlfriend, Gabrielle.

To have lost Matthew is heartbreaking – it has come as such a shock to us all. His life was far too brief. He is survived by his parents Matt and Jenifer Sanders; longtime girlfriend Gabrielle Bushman, his sister Ashley (Tyler) Huskey, niece Ariyah, and nephews Collin and Dominic. He also leaves his paternal grandparents, Marvin and Andrea Sanders and Diane and Paul Davis, maternal grandmother Pamela Huskey, and great-grandmother Janice Birch. Beloved nephew of Stacy Layton, Gary (Desiree) Huskey, Jason Huskey, Jamie (Shawn) Robinson, Joseph (Lucy) Huskey, Miles Sanders and Claudia Sanders, cousin and friend to many. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Speiser Huskey, maternal grandfather Gary Huskey, sister Aaliyah Sanders and uncle Jacob Sanders.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, October 20th, from (1PM - 2PM (family only), 2PM - 5PM (family and friends) with a memorial service from 5PM - 6PM at Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel, 9450 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63132.

Our family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have given their support, compassion, prayers and love during this very difficult time. We know in our hearts that Matthew would not want us to grieve for too long. Rather, he would want us all to remember the good times we all were blessed to share with him.

Farewell, dear son, boyfriend, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend. You will live in our hearts forever.