Matthew T. Byers

Matthew T. Byers

Carlsbad - Matt Byers is dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia. Moe Greene. Stracci. Cuneo. Today he settled all family business.

Matthew T. Byers died on January 2, 2021. He was born on May 30, 1963 to R. Lynn Byers and Joyce A. Byers in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. The family moved to Albuquerque's South Valley in 1970, and Matt lived there for the next 20 years. He was proud of his roots and proud to be a Rio Grande Raven. Matt graduated from the UNM School of Law in 1990 and began practicing law in Carlsbad that same year. He remained in Carlsbad the rest of his life. The only exception was a six-month period practicing in Pennsylvania, which quickly sent him back to Carlsbad, vowing to never leave again.

Matt always considered himself to be fortunate to practice with outstanding attorneys, which are abundant in southeastern New Mexico. They taught him how to practice law like a gentleman and how to be better at his craft. During his career, Matt was awarded the Robert H. La Follette Award for pro bono service and was an AV rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell. In 2012, he received a special award from the New Mexico Supreme Court for assistance he gave in acting as an inventorying attorney for a large practice that had been shut down. He loved practicing law and helping others. He ended his career only because he died. Otherwise, he would still be practicing with his friend and partner, Cas Tabor.

But the law was not his greatest source of joy. By late 1997, Matt declared himself a member of the He-man Woman-haters Club and vowed that he and his daughter, Amanda, would get through life on their own. Then he met Lori. Those who know the family know that Matt and Lori had a love story rarely rivaled. Together, they raised six smart, funny, and rotten children. Matt and Lori did it as a team and were always each other's loudest cheerleaders. Although Matt tried not to be a prideful man, his family always made him proud.

If there is a legacy that Matt hopes he has passed along, it is one of charity, humor, and a dedication to lifting others up. Waitstaff throughout the state of New Mexico, and especially in Carlsbad, are mourning his loss because he made it a point to tip well, having started in circumstances in which his family lived off of tips when he was a kid. Although his profession, sometimes required him to be tough, he tried to do so with dignity and with respect to all involved.

Matt was preceded in death by his parents, his son, David Weyerman, and his sister, Valerie Byers. Survivors are Lori, his children, Amber Van Stry (Aragorn), Lyndsey Nations, Amanda Byers, Saren Walls (Chris), and Loren Girndt. He is also survived by his sister Peggy Lewis (Boyad). He also leaves behind six grandchildren.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the David Weyerman Memorial Scholarship at the Carlsbad Foundation. West Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. One other thing Matt hoped his friends would do is tell Lori and the girls stories about Matt that still make them laugh. He'd like them to have those to carry in their hearts with a smile.

And yes. You know damn well that he wrote the first draft of this obit.

Cremation has taken place and there are no services. Condolences may be expressed at westfuneralhomellc.com