Matthew Thomas SMITH

SMITH, Matthew Thomas


Matthew Thomas Smith, 22, of Granby, loving son of Thomas and Karen, went home to be with the Lord, on Saturday, (July 13, 2013) at Windham Hospital. Born in Manchester on June 8, 1991, son of Thomas William and Karen Linnea (Stursberg) Smith, he had lived in Manchester before moving to Granby with his family in 2000. Matthew graduated from Granby High School with the Class of 2009 and enrolled in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut. A gifted student, Matthew was on the Dean's List at UConn for his academic performance, he was the recipient of the School of Pharmacy Recognition Scholarship, he was a New England Scholar, and was inducted in the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society for academic excellence during his Freshman year. While at UConn, Matthew had interned at CVS and was presently serving as a pharmacy intern at Rite-Aid in East Windsor. He loved sports and wrestled all four years at Granby High School. He enjoyed playing soccer, basketball, golf, tennis, ping pong, swimming, fishing, and performing his famous flips on his family's trampoline. While growing up, Matthew took piano lessons and won awards for his natural talent. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching his favorite comedy shows, listening to music, creating his own remixes, and playing games on his X-Box. He loved animals, spending time with his younger cousins, tasting his mother's food, especially her carrot cake, and pulling pranks on his family and friends. He will be remembered for his khaki pants, white T-shirts, and bright shoe laces and his big smile that could light up a room. Besides his parents, he leaves a sister, Melissa Karen Smith of Granby; his paternal grandmother, Mary Q. Smith of Newington; his maternal grandparents, Eugene and Linnea Stursberg of Manchester; two uncles, Brian P. Smith and his wife Amy of Kensington and Karl D. Stursberg and his wife Sarah of West Suffield; three aunts, Kathi Stickley and her husband Bruce of Wethersfield, Sheila Russell and her husband Robert of Kensington, and Maura Fruin and her husband Jack of Trumbull; and his eleven cousins, Hannah Smith, Laura Stursberg, Liam, Maura, and Rory Stickley, Kyle and Kevin Russell, and Emmett, Braden, Delia, and Clara Fruin. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Thomas F. Smith.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m., at Valley Community Baptist Church, 590 West Avon Rd., Avon. Burial will follow in Simsbury Cemetery, Simsbury. Matthew's family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Underground Network, Attn: Timothy Initiative, P.O. Box 310772, Tampa, FL 33680 or by visiting, www.timothyinitiative. Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, Granby has care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.