MATTHEW PURNELL DOMAN (January 30, 1975 - November 11, 2010)
As many of you know, my son passed away recently. It was a blow to the whole family. A pain and loss that will take years to subside.
I thought I would post a little about this great son of mine. Matt lived life in OVERDRIVE. I wish sometimes he would have set a "cruise control" and not been so hard on himself, expect so much from himself, let life settle around him a little more.
A perfectionist, an achiever, an athlete, loved family and friend get togethers, a BBQ King, a tease, always with a hug to be offered.
Matthew had his own demons and dragons in life to fight. He struggled many years with alcohol and drugs. Details of those battles are not necessary for YOU, but know he tried very hard to be the conqueror of that fight. Was not to be. His body finally surrendered.
I am comforted only to know that battle is over. He is at peace. He can rest now......time to turn off the overdrive and cruise.
Here is a photo of his wonderful children. They are so dear. Their dad was their super hero
Matt and his wife Rena.
Matt and his daughter. He was her Prince.
We are all football fans..........Matt played football in highschool, went on to play college ball on scholarship. We are great fans of the Brigham Young University football team.
Matt and two of his brothers, son and nephew. (Matt on the left)
Matt with his brothers a couple of Christmas's ago. (Matt in middle)
Me and Matt.
Matt always had a BIG BONFIRE at the close of Christmas season, burning the trees in his backyard firepit. 
Matthew IS grand and over the top. Matt is my son. I wish I could cradle him in my arms .
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52 comments:
What a sweet tribute to your sweet Matt. I am thinking of you. Praying that you can find some relief.
oh, I am bawling here, Wendy.
I wish I could cradle you in my arms.
He just oozes love , he does.
May he rest peacefully forever.
He was clearly loved by so many, as evidenced by the line out the door at the viewing.
Love you, my friend!
He sounds like a wonderful wonderful man. Beautiful family.
I am just crying as I type this.
I know it will be so hard for all of you for quite awhile so all I can say is I wish you peace - I pray his sweet wife can be strong and carry on and raise those beautiful children and they can grow to honor their father.
I love you and will keep you in my prayers.
That was beautiful Wendy, bringing tears to my eyes... His smile is beautiful as his mother's...
Tracy
xxoo
oh wendy, i'm so sorry for your family's sadness. i don't even know you guys & i'm all teary over here.
Wendy-I'm am just hurting for you, Matt's wife and his darling kids!! I'm so sorry!!
You wrote a great tribute to him and may he rest in peace. {{{{hugs}}}}
Great pictures.
Love him. Love you
I can't even imagine how hard this is for you, for his wife, for his kids and all your family! I truly hope you guys are getting some peace and comfort, this is really heartbreaking. He looks like a big teddy bear, thanks for sharing with us a little bit of him.
I am sooo sorry for your loss!
I could feel your love for him in reading this... :)
I'm not sure if I told you.. but when his obituary came out.. I was reading it.. and my husband came by and saw his picture. He was like " Is that Wendy's son?? I totally know him!! "
Yep.. small world. They went to school toegther!
I believe that he will be an Angel for your family.. I'm sure he will be with you more than you know..
Love ya..
Oh Wendy, I am so sorry to hear of his passing. I know I haven't been around much.
My heart aches for you. It looks like Matt was the kind of guy that everyone loved - you can see that look in the pictures.
I will keep you, your family and his family in my prayers.
HUGS
I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful son he was. I hope you will find comfort in knowing the plan.
Oh Wendy my heart breaks for you.
Keeping y'all in my prayers.
What a lovely tribute. Beautiful, beautiful family. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers/
Oh, Wendy. This still hurts to think about the pain you've had to go through and how much Matt will be missed. What a beautiful family he has!
Just want you to know that I'm glad I was able to give you a hug and see your sweet, beautiful self! Take care and know we're still praying for you.
You have a way with words Wendy.
I'm listening to Beautiful Girl right now, that's what you are...
Matt was a bright shining star, you made him.
Love you my friend.
xoxoxoxo
That was a beautiful tribute Wendy. Matt is a handsome man. Your sons are all so good looking. Emma beautiful as well. You have awesome children.
I loved the pictures of Matt. He does look like he lived life out loud. What a joy.
He has a beautiful fmaily. My prayers are with them as well.
You won't ever get over this, but YOU WILL get through it.
You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs!
I have thought so much about you. What a touching tribute to an incredible son. My heart hurts for you. I am so sorry. If you are ever in Utah on a Monday morning .. our moms group meets from 11:30 - 1:00 and they are such incredible support to one another.
You have touched my heart and moved me by your sweet words of love and pride about your son. How broken each one in his life must feel. I can't say anything to make your pain tolerable. I can only come beside you as another mom and girlfriend and hold your hand and say I wish we could make it different for you.
May your days be kind and your nights restful.
Love Julie
Wendy, your son was a good man and you have given him a beautiful tribute.
My heart aches for you but he is now demon free and he'll be watching over each and every one of you.
Wendy, my heart goes out to you and to your family. Sending you lots of love and prayers. My hearts truly feels for you. Much love! I wish I could give you a big hug, cause you are going to need a lot of thise in the days and weeks and months to follow.
Your son's fight to survive provided you and your family and friends an awesome experience, one that I'm sure will never be forgotten. My you find peace during this difficult time.
CBG
canadianbloggergirl.blogspot.com
May your son rest in peace and may you and your family find peace as well.
Wendy, I'm sure you don't remember me but I was a friend of Troy and Matt. I just want you to know how sorry I am. Matt was an amazing individual that made everyone just a little bit happier. I had seen that Matt passed away on Facebook but my mom and brother both called to tell me. My mom remembered him from visits to our house with Joey and my brother (who is Emma's age) worked with him at UPS. His reach extended so much further than you probably realize right now.
Praying for comfort for you and your family during this difficult time.
Wendy,
What a wonderful tribute to Matt! He was a great son and you are a great mom! God will take care of him until you meet again.
Wendy I am SO sorry for the loss of your son!! It is SO sad when these things happen...you never think it will happen to you. What a wonderful, handsome son he was. Loved seeing the photos of his adorable kids and wife and your family.
I lost my sister a few years ago. She was bi-polar and committed suicide. It was SO hard, to have her here one minute and gone the next. There is not ever a day that I don't think about her.
I have to tell you that at the blogger getaway, there were 10 wonderful women there that LOVED and cared about you and kept hoping you were okay as they hadn't heard much from you in the blogging world.
I hope you can feel peace and receive strength from those around you that love and care about you SO much!!
You are in my thoughts and it is nice to put a face with the "photo drawing" of you that followed us all around at the blogger getaway.
Hope you are able to enjoy your Thanksgiving and I hope you are surrounded in abundance with family and friends and that you can know and feel of our love for you.
Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. I am sure this has been a most difficult time for you and your family. He looked like a wonderful son and father. How could he be anything but with a mother like you. God bless you and your family. Love ya girl
I'm so so sorry Wendy. If I could do anything to take away your pain, I would. He looks like an amazing man with a beautiful family.
I'm amazed at your strength. Thank you for lifting me during your time of trial. You are wonderful.
My thoughts and prayers are with you still.
Wendy -- I haven't stopped by bc I have been sick and trying to catch up so did not learn of this news until tonight ---- I am so very sorry -- such a tragedy -- Matt is a gorgeous man, inside and out and I loved getting to know him from reading your tribute and the obituary from the paper (I lived in SLC and Alta for 2 yrs - lovely country)...my hearts and thoughts are with you and his precious children.....
Wendy~I've been thinking about you and your family. As a mother of two, being sons my heart can't imagine what you're going through.
Thank you for sharing your precious photos. I've no doubt you'll find comfort in the cherished memories you shared with your sweet boy.
Love and hugs to you my sweet friend,
Sara
I am trying to find words of comfort and can only come up with
I'm so sorry
and
I love you.
I am sorry I wasn't here for the funeral. Would love to see you, hope you are still planning on the 30th. Looking at his picture, he looks so familiar to me. I know, I KNOW him from somewhere.....
Let's talk
xoxoxox
M
I just found your blog tonight and I don't know you but I had to comment that I am so sorry for your loss! Losing a loved one is so hard! Thank goodness for the Savior and the Plan of Salvation!
Wendy, I just love you. I can't even pretend to understand your pain. But I am impressed with your faith and hope for the future. I am so sorry I didn't make it to the viewing. I had planned to, but family stuff...
I am thinking of you.
Wendy I am heartbroken for you. He was a beautiful boy, a prince for sure and I know you will miss him so much. He has the cutest children ever! I know you must miss him so much. Praying for you, sweet friend.
Love to you from me...
Wonderful post for honoring your son, Matt. I'm just sure he will always be missed by his loving family. Such beautiful children and grand children you have. Your pictures are great.
Love you bunches!
Sounds like he was a wonderful son. I am so sorry for the pain you are in right now. Even the knowledge we have in the gospel doesn't lesson the hurt and loss. No mother should outlive her child. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I love this post! Your son was an amazing man! I will continue to pray for you and your family!
I know how difficult parenting is and how heartbreaking and heartwarming the experience can be, sometimes simultaneously. Feel for you and your family.
Oh dearest Wendy,
I am so very sorry to hear of this loss; I am grateful that through Claudie, I have met you and I SO HOPE THAT WE WILL BOTH BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO HER COTTAGE THIS SUMMER! My husband encourages me to go, so I am ready to do it....I would sure love to meet you. I am who I am, not glamorous, and though I am a city girl, I LOVE HORSES!!!!! I CAN GET INTO THE COUNTRY LIFE!
I am happy to know that you BELIEVE and that your son is indeed FREED. This life is so hard and cruel and yet so beautiful. The mysteries however, one day will be unveiled and we shall see EACH OTHER in purity. We shall see HIM AGAIN....bless you and thank you for your kind comments, Anita
He seems like a truly wonderful man. He was blessed to have you for a mother.
My Sweet Wendy,
I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this pain. I ache for you and for his family. I love you girl! You have brought sunshine and laughter to us. It is now our turn to support you. Let us do that.
{{{Huggggs}}}
Dear Wendy,
My heart cries for you. Such a good looking, strong son and leaving three beautiful children. You wrote a tribute that touched his soul. You are so much on my mind. I love you and wish you peace.
Oh darnit, Wendy. This is tragic.
It is so good to write about it like this. Theraputic.
I understand to a certain degree. The demons not to be conquered. Drugs are such a hard demon to conquer. My dad also lost the battle. But it must be 1,000 times harder as a mother.
I was hoping I would receive the magic quilt before you leave Utah, but it hasn't arrived yet. You'll have to give me your address so I can send it to you.
LY!
That photo of his kids really choked me up. I wish I could hug them. I feel like I'm sitting in that photo with them.
What a wonderful tribute. He'll clearly be missed.
Hey Wendy,
I was not able to attend your sons funeral as I had hoped I could.
I just wanted to show up and give you a big ol hug. I am so sorry for your loss.
Please be safe and know all the love and prayers are with your family and Matt's.
Claudia
Oh Wendy. I'm so very sorry. I have been so out of touch of late. Sending you lots of love.
I am so glad that you wrote this beautiful dedication to your son. He looks like the kind of guy that my husband would have loved to hang out with.
Prayers and hugs to you and your entire family.
Hey sweetie! Every day I think: I need to call Wendy. Maybe today will be the day I actually do it.
Please know that you've been on my mind. We have some catching up to do! I wish I could have seen more of you while you were in town.
This post was great. Thank you for letting us get to know your son a little better. It's clear he's leaving a void in so many lives.
I'm so, so sorry. My heart breaks for you.
I am sorry I wasn't around when all this happened. My heart hurts for you.
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