Matthew Ryan "Mattie" McKoy

Mattie McKoyOctober 11, 2008 - June 22, 2025Mattie McKoy didn't enter the world quietly - and he didn't live that way either. Born on October 11, 2008, with fire in his veins and mischief in his smile, Mattie came roaring into life and made sure the world never forgot him.He lived sixteen extraordinary years - not just surviving, but showing us all what it means to live on your own terms. He was a whirlwind of laughter, sass, stubbornness, and sparkle.On June 22, 2025, Mattie took his final breath, wrapped in love, in the arms of the parents who fought for every one of those days with him. He left the world the same way he lived in it: wild, brave, deeply loved, and completely in charge.Mattie loved with everything he had. He loved loudly. He loved honestly. He loved snacks. Blueberries were sacred. Starbucks pink drinks were non-negotiable. His cats were royalty. His corgis were chaos. His siblings were his favorite people in the world. He was never happier than when they were all in the car together - picking up snacks, blasting music, cracking jokes, and being joyfully unhinged. That was his version of heaven.And then there were the video games.For Mattie, games weren't just games. They were freedom. They were escape. They were his battlefield, his playground, and his kingdom. Whether taking down bosses or creating new worlds, his computer was power and escape. It was a choice. It was control in a body that didn't always give him much of it. And he ruled like the emperor that he was.He was wickedly funny. His side-eye was legendary. If Mattie roasted you, you knew you were loved. His humor was sharp, intentional, and always delivered with perfect timing. Beneath the sarcasm was a soul made of steel and gold - strong enough to carry pain most adults couldn't imagine, and warm enough to make every room feel brighter.Mattie fought every battle thrown at him: spinal cord tumors, brain tumors, neurofibromatosis, mitochondrial disease, endless surgeries, and a healthcare system not built for a kid like him. He didn't just fight - he transformed. He made doctors better. He made systems bend. He left footprints on institutions that once thought they were unmovable.He was the TICU Emperor at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - not just a patient, a presence. His voice echoed through hospital halls, emails, policies, and programs. He wasn't supposed to live past infancy. He lived long enough to change the world.Mattie helped shape the palliative and medically complex care programs at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - not just as a patient, but as a force to be reckoned with. His family will forever be grateful for the fierce and tender warriors who walked beside them, especially Dr. Ann-Marie Brooks - the only doctor Mattie ever said had "all the braincells."Mattie didn't just live.He led.He loved.He lasted.He leaves behind parents who would have set the world on fire for him, two siblings who were his everything, two grandparents who adored him beyond words, aunts and uncles who showed up without fail, cousins who brought joy, the most loyal ride-or-die friends a kid could dream of, and an enormous extended family that loved him fiercely.And beyond them? A battalion of nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, advocates, and warriors who didn't just care for Mattie - they stood with him. They witnessed what it means to fight, to laugh through pain, and to demand joy even in the hardest moments.Now, Mattie is free.No pain. No tubes. No wires. No limits.He has peace. He has rest. He has freedom in full. The weight is gone. The fight is over. And he is held in something greater than all of us.But Mattie's story doesn't end here. It lives on - in the laws that will change because of him, in the kids who will get better care because of him, and in every person who chooses to live a little louder, fight a little harder, or love a little wilder in his honor - with a splash of green.Because Mattie McKoy wasn't just a kid.He was a revolution in human form.He was love.He was power.He was ours.And legends never die.A celebration of Mattie's life will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at McKoon Funeral Home, 38 Jackson Street, in Newnan, Georgia. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., with the service to follow at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Don Daly officiating.Mattie's family kindly requests that guests not wear all black. Mattie's favorite color was green. Please dress in a way that shows joy and life - just like he did.
In lieu of flowers, Mattie's family asks that donations be made to the UAB Neurofibromatosis Program Research Fund so that one day no other child will experience what Mattie went through. Please contact Andrea Martin at (205) 757-8403 for more information on supporting the UAB NF Research Program. Online donations for NF1 research can be made here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1881/giving19/interior.aspx?sid=1881&gid=3&pgid=481&cid=1223&bledit=1&dids=4358.4142.4847.4674.4597.4321.4281.4598.4283.5139. Condolences may also be expressed online at www.mckoon.com.
McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580