Matthew Canfield Jaynes

Fountain Hills - Matthew Canfield Jaynes, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, passed away in August of 2024. He died at his home, suddenly and unexpectedly, of natural causes. He was 56 years old. Matt was born April 1, 1968, in Cleveland, OH.

Matt was predeceased by his natural father, John Canfield Jaynes, Jr. and mother, Phyllis Bleich Greenhalgh, as well as his stepfather, Harvey Greenhalgh, and his aunts, uncles, and grandparents. His spirit is carried on by his brother, Marcus Jaynes, of Falmouth, Maine (with wife, Rebecca, and sons, Christopher and Cayden); his cousin, Brian Murphy, of Novi, Michigan; his stepmother, Elaine Jaynes, of Scottsdale, Arizona; and his stepsiblings, Lisa Moore, Karen Ortega, and Cindy Moore, and Bruce & Peter Greenhalgh, and their families.

Matt was a smart, talented, curious, loving, and sensitive man, whose heart was boundless, his love and loyalties deep. He was an impassioned musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and music listener. Electric guitar was his main instrument, and noting that his first and most lasting loves were classic rock and metal (especially 80s-90s thrash) would only scratch the surface of his broad and eclectic taste and appreciation of all musical and artistic forms. He was a songwriter, poet and lyricist, and teacher, skilled with sound engineering and recording, and eager to share his music as well as hear the music of others. His deep musical interest, passion, and ability were gifts he shared with and instilled in his younger brother, Marcus, forging the strongest of lifelong bonds, the foundation of a relationship that will last forever. Matt once shared with his brother that whenever he heard a song or saw a performance, he would always think to himself, "I wonder what Marcus would think of that . . . ." And in turn, Marcus shared that Matt was also, without question, the first person he thought of in the same situations. They would share musical creations and new discoveries regularly, including via distance listening sessions, trading songs via text while listening together to each other's shares over the hours. To Matt, music was a lifeblood, one of the most important elements of his identity, and integral to his relationships with loved ones and friends. The inability to continue to share music with Matt is a true loss for everyone who knew him, but his musical legacy - in taste, musicianship, and more - lives on and will never be forgotten.

Matt grew up in Ohio as well as Lansing, MI before his family moved to Farmington, CT in 1977, where he lived until 1999 when he moved to the Phoenix Valley area in Arizona. Matt attended St. Paul's High School and graduated from Farmington High School in CT. As a kid, he enjoyed sports - soccer, football, karate - and early on became a collector and fan of music, as well as a lover of concerts, jams, cars, motorcycles, and all things mechanical. Beach and lake times at Put-in-Bay in Ohio left a lasting impression, and he deeply enjoyed science fiction & fantasy, including novels, movies, and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, a precursor to his later love of gaming. In addition to being a lifelong student of music, Matt was a student of the world, and of life; his intellectual pursuits led to a deep interest and knowledge across many fields and topics, including history, technology, science, the arts, politics, world affairs, astronomy and more. He loved animals, computers, and was an avid PC and console gamer. He also loved to learn of his friends' and family members' interests, pursuits, and accomplishments, finding joy in their joy.

Matt was someone who felt deeply, always. He was a critical thinker and a dreamer, at once a believer and a skeptic.

Matt's sense of humor was yet another unique and wonderful aspect of his personality. Always quick to rib others, joke, and laugh - including at himself - he had many made up words, phrases, and sounds of his own creation, and so many mannerisms - often known only to friends with whom he loved to share "hassles" and share "certain factors." If you know, you know.

In the early 1990s, Matt graduated with an HVAC certificate from the New England Technical Institute in Connecticut, and in the late 90s he attended Arizona State University as an undergraduate. He worked as a superintendent and maintenance professional for many properties, as a skilled interior painter, and in addition to starting his own businesses as a PC technician and property overseer, he was a key collaborator in a successful commercial window washing business. A liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, prevented him from working in his later years, but he often - though not always - managed to live a comfortable and contented life, thanks to the generosity, kindness, and support of family members and friends, especially his father and mother. His cats - first, Jake, and later, Maggie - were his most steadfast companions. Jake had passed away years earlier, but Maggie was still alive and was with Matt when he passed; she carried on his memory with caring neighbors for several months before passing at 18 years of age.

Matt, you helped us all to understand and appreciate the most important things in life. You are - and will remain - dearly missed. Your departure left a hole in the lives of your loved ones that will never be filled, but we will continue to honor you in our lives, and cherish our many memories of the wonderful times we had together - even as we regret missing the laughs, love, songs, and joy yet to be shared when you were taken too soon. Rest in peace, dear brother and friend. You are loved, and always will be.