MATTHEW EMPEY

My best friend Tina and I knew Matt from BYU. So sad to hear he passed away so young. He was a very smart and wonderful person. Looks like he went on to live a very full life. I read all of the heartfelt comments about Matt and he truly was that great of a person. My prayers go out to his family.

Matt and I were residents together at Barnes Hospital in Saint Louis. There was no one kinder than Matt Empey. He had great devotion to his patients and was always generous with everyone he met. I am very saddened to learn that he passed away and offer condolences to his family. I remember thinking of Matt this past year when his SF Giants won the World Series and knowing that he must by happy. I really wish I would have stayed in touch with him better after residency. The world was a better place with Matt Empey working as a physician.

As soon as I heard this very sad news, I turned to my daughter and told her about the Advanced Personal Development test that Matt gave us when he was about 12 years old. I smiled when I read Brandon's comments about a medical test. I dug out the test and found a couple of great questions: 1. 2500 riot-crazed Aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek. When Matt would ask us questions that he knew we couldn't answer, we would ask him how he knew so much, he would reply, "I don't but you guys don't know the difference so I just make up what I don't know. I have spent the last weekend sharing so many wonderful memories with my kids. I took my son,Matt, to a rock climbing gym in memory of Matt today. What a wonderful example Matt was to me even when he was only 11 or 12 and I was 18, 19 or so. My prayers and thoughts have been with you all since I heard. Thank you for such a wonderful family.

I was so impressed with Matt in the brief time that we knew him in our Loomis ward. He was a stalwart young man in every way. May the grief that you feel at his passing be alleviated by your knowledge of the valiant life that he lived here, and the good that he continues to do for the Lord in his service on the other side of the veil. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

I am so sad and sorry to hear about Matt passing away! What a good man of talent and integrity!! I pray an extra portion of the Lord's spirit to be with you and your family, now and always, as your heart takes time to heal.

At times like this words seem so inadequate. We want you to know how much we sorrow for you and your family at the loss of Matthew. He had such a zest for life he'll be missed by all who knew him. How proud you must be of what he accomplished in his young lifetime.May his memories sustain you and the Lord's promise of comfort be felt.
~love~

Empey family we are so sorry for the loss of your son Matt. Our heart goes out to you and you will be in our prayers during this time. God be with you.

Chuck and Linda, I am so so sorry for your loss. My heart and prayers and sympathy goes out to you and your family in this time of need. Hugs

Dear Brother and Sister Empey and family, I didn't know Matt but my mom said she could always count on Matt to give a scripture or prayer when she was in the primary presidency. He sounds like such a wonderful young man. I feel the sorrow and pain for loosing a loved one so suddenly. My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time.
Love Ginger Swartz-Kuhn

Saratoga for me. Is the "Empey's". Your family made me feel so welcomed. Matt is a role model and someone that leads with confidence, subtleness and Intelligence. "I always thought he understood things that most could not". Iam so sorry for your loss.

We were so shocked and saddened to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and pray that you will be sustained during this difficult time. Your family has been so influencial in my life and that of my parents (Carol and Von Haws). Extending our love to you and your family. Love Doug and Gretchen (Haws) Myers and children

Sending you all of our love and prayers. We are so sorry for your loss! Becky & Alexander Montgomery and kids

Our love goes out to the Empey family at this time. We are very grieved to hear of Matt's passing. May your wonderful memories of him sustain you thru this time. Love, Larry and Diana Geddie, (Thornton, Colorado)

The list of happy and funny memories I have with Matt and all of the Empeys in my time in Saratoga is too long to share but I will share a few. Building zip lines over the greatest rock pool ever, burying the hose deep in the ground in the garden under a giant pile of soil and letting it run as long as we could to observe the effects of erosion over and over again, playing hide and seek with Kara and Megan (Lindsay was still a baby), Chuck taking us to the TRS-80 Color Computer club with the hopes of getting memory upgrades from 4k to 32k at a good price and getting us Frosties at Wendy's afterwards, eating those delicious scones Linda would make on the mornings of sleepovers, listening to that church song album that encouraged us to take the phone off the hook during family night, and of course telling everyone that we were going to be "anastesialogical cardiopulminary perfusionists with a specialty in cardiac defibulation".(I just liked saying it, Matt meant it)

I am so grateful to have been friends with Matt. He is one of the most genuine and nicest people I have ever had the privledge of knowing.

Brother and Sister Empey,

I just heard the tragic news and want to say how deeply sorry I am. I hope that the outpouring of sympathy you are receiving is some consolation at this very sad time. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I was Matthew's primary teach when he was 7. We challenged the children to read the Book Of Mormon in a year. Matt read it in 3 months. He was a very spiritual young man who always set a good example to others. He will always be loved and missed. My thoughts and prayers are with Charles and Linda and their faimly.
Love, Diana Graham

I love you as a brother and will miss you very much

I am truly grieved to hear of Matt's passing. I know we share a love for Spain and the Spanish people. Based on the accounts written of Matt's life it is clear that he is a noble servant of the lord and will merit the highest praise of "Well done thou good and faithful servant..."

Our love and prayers to the Empey family. We are still in shock. Our family grew up with the Empeys and we will always remember Matt as a great example of goodness and a great friend to our boys.

So sorry to hear this. I remeber teaching Matt how to play football in the parking lot of the Saratoga building while our fathers did bishopric business on Wednesday nights - Matt must have been 8 or 9. My condolences to Chuck and Linda.

most sincerely,
Michael Dillon

Our deepest and sincere condolences to the entire Empey family at this time of sadness for the loss of a loved one. However, we get to look at his life and enjoy the sweet spirit he had and shared with us for his short mortal existence. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Remember he is doing the Lord's work elsewhere and preparing for others to follow him. Michael Story (Saratoga 2nd Ward)

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. The Empey family had such a wonderful influence on many peoples lives in Saratoga (including mine). It's been it's been 4 years since I lost my brother suddenly and I remember how difficult it was. I wish the family peace during this difficult time.

To the Entire Empey Family and Extended Family,

I am one of Jenny's good friends from elementary school. I remember Matt as a shy kind of younger person. Sounds like he accomplished so very much over the years. I am deeply sorry to hear about his passing. May God give you the strength and energy to get through this tough time.

With you in thought,

Tight hugs and shared tears for Chuck & Linda! I will see you at Matt's services on Monday!
Love, Dawn Stadmiller Davis

i remember matt and i growing up and all the nights of plotting what we were going to do to our sisters when they fell a sleep. i am so grateful that i got to see him this summer and i will miss him so very much. i'm sure the reality of it all will hit when i get to cali and have to bury my cousin that was so close to me in age.

No bond is as great as that between a parent and child. My deepest condolences are with you as you grieve.

We all remember the best about people after they are gone, but with Matt all that I have ever heard was "the best". All of the good things people are recalling about him now are true and not overstated due to his passing. Everyone that knew Matt respected him and loved him. I know "the boys" all think of him as the best among them. I always thought that anyone who he treated as a patiant was lucky to have someone as thoughtful, calm and brilliant for their doctor. To the Empeys, our hearts ache for your loss, we have thought about you all so much over the past week, we love you!

Our love goes to you at this hard time. May God be with you. We're here to help with whatever you need.
Love,
Eric, Tati, Giovanna, Laura, Michelle and Chris.

Dr. Empey was a wonderful man and physician. He will greatly be missed by so many that cherished what he did. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

I was saddened to hear about Matt's passing and couldn't help but wish I had gotten to know him better. The Ottley cousins haven't been together for quite awhile and it's hard to keep in touch, as we used to. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Empey family during this difficult time. We love you.

One of my fondest memories (recalled over and over again to my kids, parents, wife, friends, strangers on a regular and repetetive basis) was sitting in the back of the Walt Bornemeir's wagon/van on the way to Scout Camp. Matt was reading a book on tough graduate (medical?) school entrance exam questions. Strange since he was only 11 or 12 at the time. He read me one of the questions from the book:

"Please describe the history of the the anesthesiological, cardiolpulmonary, perfusionary from it's origins to present day concentrating especially, but not exclusively on its social, ploticial, economic, religious and philosophical impacts on Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Please be brief, consice and specific."

He thought the question was interesting and so he memorized it instantly. I sat with him and memorized it too....but it took me the full 3 hour drive to Scout camp.

I'll miss you Matt.

Brandon Spackman
Aix en Provence
France

I am so sorry to hear this he was a wonderful person and physician. My husband and I keep his family in thought and prayer.

I am Amy Wiltbank's aunt. I know Amy and Matt had know each other for quite a short time, but she and her family were very fond of him. I love him because she did.

My son, Mike age 30, passed away nearly 7 years ago. Not a day goes by that don't think of him and miss him and yearn for his presence. However, I can assure you that the anguish that one feels over the loss of a child does ease with time.

How blessed we are to have the perspective of the gospel in our lives. My sincere love and condolences go out to all of you, his family.

He was a sweet, kind doctor. I am going to miss seeing his smiling face. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and co-workers. I and others will miss him greatly.

I am shocked that this could happen to someone our age. Just when I was thinking we were getting old, it shows you how young we truly are. I have know Matt since Argonaut days and am so sorry at how much he will be missed by his family. My deepest sympathies, Kelli Kuechler Hodge