Matthew Aaron Rife

ABINGDON – Matthew Aaron Rife, known to all his friends as Spot, 21 years old, formerly of Grundy and Louisa, Va., passed away Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, at the Tazewell Community Hospital, Tazewell, from injuries sustained in a hunting accident.
Born in Pike County, Ky., on June 3, 1984, he was the son of Roy Lee and his wife Cindy Rife of Grundy and Terri Hackney Rife Smith and her husband Bruce of Louisa. He was a longtime resident of Buchanan County, was a 2002 graduate of Grundy High School, where he was a member of the Grundy wrestling team and the Grundy baseball team. He was an employee of Gasco Drilling Inc.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his fiancée, Kim Stacy of Abingdon; one son, Mason Aaron Rife of the home; one stepson, Dylan Wolford of the home; two brothers, Brandon Smith of Louisa and Bruce Smith II of Louisa; and one sister, Katy Blankenship and husband Dennis of Vansant, Va. Matthew is also survived by his paternal grandfather, Roscoe and his wife Linda Rife of Grundy; his paternal grandmother, Alice Rife of Richlands; his maternal grandfather, George Hackney of Grundy; and his maternal grandmother, Edna Moore of Gordonsville, Va. He is also survived by several uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, who loved him dearly.
Funeral services for Matthew Aaron (Spot) Rife will be conducted Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005, at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel, with Evangelist Mike Rife and Tim Brown officiating, with burial to follow in the Mountain Valley Memorial Park at Big Rock, Va.
Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel after 5 p.m. Monday. There will be a Tuesday evening service at 7 p.m.
Active pallbearers will be Nathan Adkins, Chris Adkins, Jason Adkins, Doug Adkins, Josh Rife, Anthony Looney, Earl Lamb, Anthony Hackney, Neil Christian, Sam Baldwin and B.B. Baldwin.
Honorary pallbearers will be Christopher Rife, Jonathan Rife, James Rife Jr., Jessee Willis, Ryan Keene, David Lee Fields, Steven Bickley Jr., Bo Hubbard, Dennis Blankenship, Josh Charles and Gasco employees.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.