Michael Sean Matthews

With heavy hearts we announce the death of Michael Sean Matthews on March 8, 2026. He died unexpectedly at his home following a decades-long battle with alcoholism. In spite of his struggles, Mike was loved and cherished by all, and his passing leaves our hearts broken.

Mike, also called "Mikey" was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, moving briefly to Los Angeles, California then on to Las Vegas, Nevada and finally to Northglenn, Colorado.

Mike was a loving and annoyingly frustrating brother to his sisters in the way that only brothers can be, which of course endeared him to his many cousins, nieces and nephews. Mike had an often-ridiculous sense of humor which could have us in stitches following one of his stray comments. The pithy, often off-color or ridiculous phrases he would come up with and let fly are now enshrined in familial memory.

Mike showed early inclination towards working with his hands in his toddler years, pilfering his mother's bobby pins to create various and imaginative projects until he was granted access to the coveted Tinker Toys and Legos. Eventually this talent transformed into his gift for carpentry, which became his profession. He worked variously in construction, cabinetry, and even bicycle making. He had the ability to make friends wherever he went and his gregarious, happy nature was a joy to all who knew him.

For reasons no one can fathom, Mike became a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers when he was six years old. He was an avid football and fantasy football fan. He also held an abiding love for Metal, Warhammer, OT Star Wars and what he would call "cool bada**" stuff like fantasy novels as well as Norse and Irish mythology.

Mike was predeceased by his parents, Mary Kathleen Kearns of Phoenix, and John Russell Matthews II of Mesa. He is survived by his sisters Kelly Kearns and Genevieve Marquardt and their respective husbands Jason Haddix and Eric Marquardt; his niece and nephews Sarah and Christopher Garcia and DeForeest Wright; his great aunt Letta Borders; uncles Michael Kearns and George Matthews; his aunts Brenda Kraus and Jovita Matthews; his cousins Linda, Allen, Teri and Dave, Jennifer and Jon, Jessica, Jake and Elizabeth, Michael and Mallory, Amanda and Bryan, Kara and Clayton, Bridgette, Sergio, Christie, Mandi, Dustin, Holly, Christopher, and Charles. He is also survived by his former wife, Carolyn Matthews and friends too countless to mention.


Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay. -- Robert Frost