I remember Matt and I trying to teach Braedyn how to catch. The first time I tried, I hit Braedyn between the eyes. Matt banned me after that. But never stopped trying. 

I remember walking in and seeing Matt feeding year old Dylan hot sauce out of his hand. I flipped. And I forebade it. So he taught her how to climb up the refrigerator to get it. I didn't say no to that, in his opinion. She still eats hot sauce, by itself, today. Thanks Matt

I remember the first time Matt got on a knee board. He did make it. Micheal didn't. He was so proud of himself. And took up all of the turns to make himself better. Totally Matt.

I remember the beach. Matt had got into an argument over whose crab was bigger. They beat them to death and then chucked them over the side to hide it. And then the 'fore' came in. But it was an argument about whose was bigger that started it. Matt got his the fartherest (aka the pool) and won. He was so sun burnt. 

I remember when Matt and the neighbor boy had a contest about who could hold a fire cracker the longest. Matt won. I tried and Matt slapped it out of my hand and stepped on it. Not sure what we told Mom about the blown up shoe. 

I remember Matt talking me into holding a piece of cardboard with a target on it. He pumped his BB gun 25 times and shot. He didn't hit the bull's-eye but it did go through and hit my leg. I think we told Mom that the bullet ricocheted. He was 6-7 and so upset. 

For all the things I couldn't say......I remember.

One of Mom's favorite stories is when Matt came in covered in blood. Screaming and yelling.  And then I walked in quietly. He was so upset that I was hurt. He was my protector.

This trip was and will always be one of my favorite’s  ever! Matt made it one of the very best it could be. He made sure I could experience some amazing activities. parasailing was just one of the many things. He made it possible for me to do things I never thought I would ever experience. We did many things from just me him and Kayli  going riding late at night listening to music to riding the boat and jet skis and going tubing.  I can for sure say that this trip will be one that I can remember forever. ❤️

Matt and I first met in not the most friendly of ways. I was fishing with my wife on a Sunday evening. He decided to light off industrial grade fireworks and it stirred me the wrong way. So I made my way over and gave him a piece of my mind but noticed he was with family. He asked me if I was the “dang pohleese”. I left the house when he then came to my backyard to make  amends. We almost went to blows but instead ended with bro hugs. He was just tryin to give a good night for his family. 

I remember Matt riding us around in Bainbridge and going to Belk’s. He was so over us shopping but he always made sure y'all got what you wanted. I love you girl and I'm so sorry you're having to go on without him by your side. 

Matthew, just knowing you was awesome. Being a part of your too short life was my blessing. As I sit here and my grief overflows because I don't understand any of this. I remember the good times, the look on your face when I would wake you to go on a fishing trip . So excited you were, and tickled to have out fished me again I didn't mind either I just wanted to spend time with you. I am going to miss you so much, words can not express how much. But my best memories of you were when you accepted Christ and the look of pure joy when pastor finally pulled you up out of the water when you were baptized, the way you held Kamryn with those mitts you had for hands the love you showed Kayli the bear hug that you would grab me up in when we would meet up. I will love you and as long as I live will never forget you. Until the day Jesus brings me home to rest with you just fly high my angel and tell my grandma I said hello.  Love you son... Dad

So many memories. So many laughs, stitches, fishing and  fishing hook to head. Vacations, with crabs being tossed over room balcony how do I pick just one. Well, how about June 1993 the original Jurassic Park came out. You boys couldn’t wait to see this movie in the theater. I took all 6 of you. You, Michael and Tyson were in awe of this new adventure of these dinosaurs. That night you boys were jumping and running around until late hours that night and the rest of that summer acting like you were dinosaurs. Matt I’m going to miss how you said Aunt Mary in that Southern voice. Rest In Peace my sweet Mathew!!!!!💙💙

My prayers for all.  I’m so sorry for your loss.  I remember the first time I met Matt I remember thinking wow what a beautiful smile.  I was so proud of the day he was baptized watching him was such a blessing, that smile of happiness was beautiful.  He will be missed by many, but never forgotten.  Love you.

Carol Boyd and Buddy Boyd

There are alot of memories I could write about Matt Swaim, I could tell you how he taught me to light my first match or how I should not to cry over boys "because they are stupid" but my fondest memory of him was when we were younger. One summer we were riding back from Jamie and Jareds in Fort Myers and the song "Lady Humps" came on the radio... He light up like the fourth of July and challenged me to a rap battle because he was "Fergie's biggest fan" and knew all of the words not missing one. Needless to say he was right and WON... Over the years (after our parents divorced) Matt continued to treat me like family....He would send the occasional messages checking in on me, asking how I was and encouraging me to get out and see the world. I will never forget you  or the things you taught me.... forever young, wild and crazy R.I.P Big Brother 💔  You will truly be missed!!!! All of My Love and prays goes out to his wife, children,  Mother and sisters 🤍🤍🤍

This was the last kiss I sent you. You hated my fish face, lol.. But I loved letting you know  how much I loved to put my lips on yours. I loved your kisses and your big hugs. One of your hugs always made everything better, even if it was you I was upset with, that hug could make me forget it all. Husband, my Mr. Wonderful I will always love you! 

This was such a fun day, although your wild driving all the way up mt Lassen made me sick to the  point I had to get in the back seat. I will always miss how adventurous you were and how it was your mission to get under my skin one way or another. I've lost you now as my husband, my best friend, my comforter, and my protector but I'm so thankful for all the wonderful memories that I'll be able cherish forever. 

Oh brother, the memories we have, but my last memory is by far my favorite. I was so excited when I found out you was coming to my wedding, all the things that went wrong were no longer important. The fact that you flew in from California just to be there blew my mind. You fell asleep but it's okay, you had jet lag. We were walking to take pictures and you stepped on my dress and I turned around like "Matt! Don't step on my dress!" Only for you to look me dead in my face and tell me "I didn't step on it, I kicked it!" You crazy man! I love you so so much! I will never forget you and will always try my best to make you proud.

I remember our 4th of July get together at Neal's. We went tubing and Matt was on the tube. He somehow made it flip and when it did, it suctioned to the water and pulled and bent the ski bar that was bolted onto the boat! It ripped the cover from the tube also. I can remember his nervous smile and laugh when we circled around to pick him up.  Our tubing was cut short that day since he broke everything bc he always had to be extra and do tricks, but we still swam and enjoyed fire works with all the family.  That was a good day, one I'll always remember.  

Matt never showed up at my job, but the day he got his boat I could  see him smiling from two blocks away coming to show me the new toy. This was one of his proudest moments. He worked hard to give us a great life so he definitely deserved things to make him happy too. I wanted a Tahoe really REALLY bad at this time, so it took a lot of him convincing to get him to put his wants first  for once. I'm so thankful that he did because his boat and his truck became his babies.. 

Matt lived life to the absolute fullest. I was jealous while he was in California getting to go skydiving. Which of course it wasn't enough for him to just go once, he took the class and did the required number of instructed jumps so that he could finally jump by himself. He had that kind of determination in every thing, and mastered almost everything he tried. He definitely wasn't afraid to live life on the edge, the edge of crazy at times, like when he sent me a picture of the speedometer on his crotch rocket, going 148.. That was when I realized he was honestly just insane.. Lol

Sent to me from Chris Greene........ So sorry to hear about this , my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I worked with matt at canyon dam in California, i met you once in redding while we were on a storm call , any way  i was on matts crew for a few months and really enjoyed working with him , i had recently toped out and matt took me under his wing and helped me out alot. That was something he didn’t have to do, but he did . I was bummed when he headed back to kansas, but understood, he missed you and your daughters terribley. He often talked about it. Matt was a hell of a hand and enjoyed what a MFJL detailed. I will look to see if i have any pictures of matt that i can send your way

When you think of Matt your first thought is always that big beautiful smile. He was such an inviting person. Every one of his co-workers I've spoke with loved working with him, his two buddies D and Goose tried living with him.. Lol.. He said they were always acting like old men going to bed way too early, but thankfully Goose made up for by knowing exactly how to fix his biscuit every morning. These guys became so close and have remained like family until this very day. To all who worked with him, i say thank you for having your brothers back! 

One of the stories My buddy like to tell of us more than any other was when he came to the house one weekend and we jumped on a motorcycle riding like we didn’t have any sense. My mother came out hollering at us to park it. So I told her I was working on the carburetor knowing we didn’t know a thing about a motorcycle except riding it. After the second time Matt could see she done got pretty hot so he said you can let me off before she is pissed with me. Well I let him off mama wasn’t in site so I took off on it again and about the time I was passing the shelter she came out wide open with a shovel. I hit the gas and laid as low as I could as I heard the shovel go over my head. You could hear that laugh from a mile away that you knew  was Matt Swain. Needless to say I parked the motorcycle hollered at mama and told her she could come get if she wanted it I wasn’t bring it back!! Matt came down to where I was steadily laughing saying man you mama is crazy she tried to kill you “A-S”. 

Another time we went to Mexico Beach and walked from camp ground to beach several times. On a trip back late one evening as we passed a house a dog came barking and growling. First thing he said was dnt run. Well he should have listen to his own advice because as soon as that dog got too close for comfort for him Matt was running around me trying to snatch me in between him and the dog and slapping his hat at the dog. Luckily the owner came out and got the dog back in the yard and said yaw ain’t got to worry he want bite lol! Matt’s said “BS” LOL He knows he tickled me that day. 

As the years passed and we went different ways we still would keep in touch more than the rest of our old friends. We talked about how our lives changed from our wild partying years and how he had finally gotten with that amazed me that he listen to said she help him get away from the party life. He told me they got saved, married moved off to Kansas and and was a lineman. 

Matt was my flying buddy. Both for real and in game. I'm going to miss the happiness you shared with many that crossed your path. I first met you in Chico where we were both working. You were always there with helping hands. Sometimes quite literally since you were taller than I am and had a much longer reach. Outside of work you always tried to make sure I was included. You extended many invitations to join you for both food and family fun. You were a good and kind man and you are gone too soon. I enjoyed the many laughs we shared. Rest easy brother.

I got to see Matt one last time a month ago randomly when we were at evergy getting material. He came up hugged me and told me he loved me and if I needed any help in my apprenticeship to call him and he would be there and that he was proud of me for getting in the apprenticeship. 

Matt invited us on a family vacation a few weeks ago. We had such a good time but Ken ended up breaking his foot the first day. Matt was there for me helping me in and out the boat and was always insisting to pay for our meals. We've had our ups and downs but I truly feel matt was a loving and caring person and he will truly be missed.

Matt…We have several memories over the years, from children running up and down the dirt roads and riding four-wheelers to teens and adults making careless decisions while having a blast doing it. I can remember Taylor and Allie staying with you, Traci and the girls when they were smaller and the two of them coming home and telling us funny/silly things you had done. They would be laughing so hard that we could hardly understand them. I remember you always being excited to buy Hunter and Dawson their Christmas gifts because they were the only little boys in the family. Over all the best memory I have of you was being there to witness you get Baptized and choosing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The excitement on your face, the hope, and the joy in your eyes in that moment were all-consuming and infectious. Just an indescribable moment. Now you may rest in true peace, free from the burdens of this crazy world!

Matt was a good man, a great lineman and most importantly a great friend.   He would do anything to help others.  He was a joy to be around.   Through him, we got to meet his family and became close friends.   We will truly miss Matt and will forever hold him in our hearts.

I met Matt through my husband in 2008 , him and Dewayne were school friends and still kept in contact through the adult years, I remember him being like Dewaynes little “solider boy” is what I use to joke as him as because he was so much smaller than Dewayne but thought Dewayne was the real deal and a chip off the ol block, he didn’t care what he did he was always down to hang or even go along for the ride!!  He was willing to go to Fl with us to my bro wedding with a crew of CRAZY PEOPLE HE DIDNT EVEN KNOW!!! Needless to say Matt fit in right along with all my crazies cause he lived life on the crazy side also!!  No matter what he may have ever done to get Dewayne hot he would always come back and start right back where we all left at… no hard feelings, no grudges, just simple talk and seeing the changes in life…  Matt wanted so bad for me and his wife to finally meet he told my husband “ you have a good wife and I think Traci would love her” breaks my heart that chance didn’t come but to be honest the way he talked about her and seeing their fairy tale unfold over Facebook I felt like I knew her, she made him complete, she made him want to be better … I couldn’t even remotely say how much my heart breaks that he isn’t here anymore but no doubt in my mind he lived EVERY DAY LIKE HIS LAST!!!
 Reast Easy Matt,
 Tiff and Dewayne

I think back on our childhood growing up only a few houses from one another, how good looking you were but too arrogant for me to stand. But finally "going out" in middle school. After one week of dating you told me you love me so naturally I dumped you. Our friendship faded but thank goodness that over 20 years later we crossed paths again. On our first official date a friend called you wanting to chat, and you simply told him "man, I can't talk right now, I'm going out with the girl I've wanted to get with all my life".... I knew then that we would have something very special. It was at that moment that you captured my heart and continued to shower me with love. I fell for you hard and haven't stopped falling for you yet! Matthew Swaim, more than anything I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to love someone like that. Thank you for allowing me to have someone to pour myself completely into and truly love unconditionally. Our love was strong and through trials and tribulations we proved stronger than the world around us, and while it wasn't nearly long enough I thank God for giving me such an amazing life partner. I thank him for you, my soul mate. 

Where do I start. Matt has done so much for me other theses years. He has took me many places with him and his family just as if I was one of his own. He was a very good man always wanting to help people. He has always wanted to help me in anyway he could . He always wanted to try to put a smile on my face and many others. He was so loved and  will really be missed. 

My baby boy.  The one memory that makes me smile the most was when we went to the beach in Fort Myers and the star fish were breeding.  You were probably 12. You were diving down coming up with them on your face head shoulders and they were suctioned to you.   Over and over you would go down coming up with more and more of them.  Then this beautiful grown woman came out onto the beach and proceeded to take off all of her clothes to sun bath. All I heard was Aunt Jaime she ain’t got no clothes on.   As I looked I scream don’t look Mattthew Ryan. To late his eyes were popped out of his head like willie coyote.  Smh that was all you talked about for the rest of the trip.  

Matt Swaim was the most selfless and considerate person I've ever known. He was a true friend to many, a dedicated husband, and a true believer in hard work to provide for the ones he loved.

Uncle Matt, 
Thank you for taking us tubing in Tennessee.  We had so much fun there. It was so funny when you fell off the water trampoline bc you didn't want to get wet.  I will miss you.
Kayci Trotman (6)

Matt, I'm so thankful you came into our lives. You came and completed our little family. Your outgoing spirit matched with your passion for life will never be forgotten. I love you so very much. 

My personal favorite memories is when Matt broke his arm from falling off a ladder, cut his cast off, then whined about his arm hurting 🤣🤣🤣

ALL TIME FAVORITE: when I went to clean their house cause Traci and the girls were coming back from vacation and I accidentally threw away his dinner cause the crock pot wasn't plugged in lmfao 🤣 I felt so bad, but it was so funny!! 

Matt and Traci,
Two of the world's sweetest people. 💕  They took in my children like they known them my whole life from the moment I met the two of them.

Where to even begin! Matt had the best smile that would light up a room. His laugh was contagious, and he had so much love for his girls!

My baby girl called him, Map. Traci, Matt and I couldn't do anything else but laugh. It was the cutest!  Avs and him had such a connection from the first time they met.  Despite every flaw he had, she looked through them all and saw nothing but the best in him! 

Whenever my son would cop an attitude, Matt would call him over and tell Bennett..now that's the only momma you'll ever have, you'll never have anyone else like her, so treat her right. 💙

He acted like one of the kids whenever I'd go over for the day. They all rode couch cushions down the stairs, we attended church together,  he played video games with Bennett, came and cheered my baby on at his baseball game,, had a special celebration for me the day i passed my entrance exam for nursing school. Their house was my second home. My happy place.  It's not gonna be the same without ya there, bud. 


I will never forget how my heart filled when I first held you, my beautiful baby boy.  Matthew - "God's gift". And that is exactly what you have been to me all of your life. I will always love you my son. You have blessed me in so many ways your love,  your smile and your fearlessness of life. My life is fuller because you were in it. Thank you for all you have given me a new daughter to cherish, two beautiful granddaughters and joy. So very much joy. I love you. 

I worked with Matt in Northern California in 2019. Friendly competition at top golf. If I remember right, he didn’t like to lose!

Matt and I worked together at the beginning of the California gold rush of 2019. He was a great lineman and union brother. We had a lot of fun and a great time together riding through the mountains on UTVs. When we left to go home in April I  stopped to load up 30 cases of 805 beer to take back home to the midwest. It was a bad idea putting that many bottles in the back seat. All we heard for 2 days was clicking glass lol, he was so annoyed by it. He was a great man and he will be remembered by everyone who knew him

Matt loved spending time with us and never failed to make us feel like the most important people on earth. He took me in and treated me as his own, as time passed “step daughter” went away and I was just his daughter. The love and respect I have for him is beyond words. Of course we had our up’s and down’s but we always got through it… he’s been there for it all. He took me to daddy daughter dances, listened to me cry over guys, tried his best to help with homework when neither of us had a clue what was going on, making sure to have time dedicated to just me so I knew how much I meant to him, buying me anything I asked for (even if mom didn’t like it) and always tried to make sure I came out of a bad situation on top and okay! Matt coming into my life was truly a blessing that I will never forget, he made life fun, full of adventure, and just low and behold amazing. Matt coming into our life’s truly completed us.  I’ll love you forever <3  Kayli 

I Lost a good Brother and a good Friend.
Matt loved the trade. He gave 100% all the time, which made him a hell of a hand to have on your crew. But what I appreciated most about Matt, was his ability to lift the morale in the people around him.  The joking around and giving each other crap are some of the best memories.  After  he drug up California, it was never the same and never as much fun. 
Now he has drug up one final time. May he live on in our hearts and memories. 
My heart goes out to Traci, Kayli and Kamryn.

OBITUARY

Matthew Ryan Swaim

March 30, 1985 – June 17, 2022

Lakeview Funeral Home & Cemetery

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