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Matthew Wilks Obituary
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Born Matthew Cooper Wilks on September 21,1974 in Covington, GA to Pamela Joyce Slaughter and Phillip Cooper Wilks, Matt spent most of his childhood in Proctorville, OH. He attended Fairland schools where he ran track and cross country. With his core group of friends, he played lots of video games and attended many concerts.
In 1997, Matt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryville College with a major in chemistry. During his 4 years at Maryville College, he played football (#84, TE) and was part of a "secret society." After graduation, he worked as a phlebotomist for a few years at Blount Memorial while awaiting acceptance to a PA program.
Matt was an honor graduate from Emory's 2001 Physician Assistant program and simultaneously earned a master's degree in medical science.
Matt worked as a Dermatology Physician Assistant for 21 years. He was employed by Dermatology Associates of Knoxville from 2003 – 2019, Blount Memorial Physicians Group-Dermatology & Plastic Surgery from 2019 – 2023, and most currently Knoxville Center for Dermatology & Plastic Surgery from October 2023 to present.
Matt was very intelligent, a hard worker, a dedicated employee, a team player, and a caring practitioner.
Matt loved Jesus Christ, his wife and kids, his parents and siblings, his extended family, his friends, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, wearing masks while wake surfing, watching movies, attending concerts, listening to music, working-out, playing Magic the Gathering, dermatology, caring for patients, teaching students, helping friends, snowboarding, dressing-up in costumes, Marshall University, watching ESPN, MMA fighting, riding in his convertible mustang, and boxer dogs.
Matt is survived by his wife of 22 years, Amanda (Mandi) Cofer Wilks, and their 3 children Benjamin (Ben) Cooper Wilks (18), Brody Laine Wilks (15), and Sadie Jo Wilks (12). He is, also, survived by his loving family: Pam Carden (mom), Phil Wilks (dad), Lisa Wilks (step-mom), Lindy Hoeft (sister) and her spouse Matthew and kids Aiden & Henry, Jimmy Harris (brother) and his spouse Trisha Harris and kids Jacob & Cody, Scott Wilks (brother) and his spouse Kate Wilks and kids Liam, Rorie, & AJ, Amy Sausaman (sister) and her spouse Robert and daughter Ibbie Claire, Trent Wilks (brother), as well as a close-knit extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Matt was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Hugh Herndon Wilks and Eulah Jo Cooper Wilks as well as his maternal grandparents Howard Romine Slaughter and Mary Frances Cooper Slaughter.
Matt's absence will be profoundly felt by a community of friends and colleagues who respected, admired, and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville (breakthroughknoxville.org) or AFSP/Out of the Darkness (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) (supporting.afsp.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
Shawn Lundin
June 19, 2025
It's June 19th of 2025, and today I found out that one of the most luminous people I've ever known had passed away. Dr. Matt was a dermatological physicians assistant in his employment, but for 20 years, for me, he was THE doctor. I met him when we were both young men, and he was working at dermatology associates. He removed a mole from my neck that ended up being a stage 3b melanoma, a fact that he had the unenviable task of informing me of. I underwent a surgery that saved my life, and I continued to see him for checkups, slowly getting to know him. A few years later, he diagnosed my t cell lymphoma, which is a difficult diagnosis, requiring a doctor to be diligent and dedicated, as it's commonly misdiagnosed, as it's rare, and shares symptoms of common skin ailments. He, however, operated on good intuition, skill, and dedication to determine what truly ailed me, and over 3 months, he guided me through a process of elimination before ultimately, and correctly, ordering a biopsy and blood work that verified a diagnosis that, even among doctors as I understand it, requires esoteric medical knowledge and training to even consider as a potential. This was compounded by the fact I was, as with the melanoma, generally too young, and with symptoms too mild, for many practitioners to look so deeply into. Yet Dr Matt managed this without any misdiagnosis. Light therapy was the treatment, something I did 3 times a week in his office for several years. We shared a love for heavy metal music and videogames. As a musician, I always looked forward to playing him my new songs, and every visit was seeing a friend. He never rushed me, and sometimes I know I was making his day fall behind. He came to my home once to teach me how to properly work out, and it was the first time I saw him out of his lab coat, and I was like "damn Matt, you're totally jacked!", I'd just never noticed, even though he stood above me (perhaps 6'3"?). "All the best exercises are done with your own body weight" he told me, using nothing more than a stool to do his routine, much of which I still do to this day. He advised me on all aspects of health, and today I KNOW I've survived to see his passing ONLY because I had a doctor as brilliant and dedicated as him. I feel for his family, I can only imagine the hurt they feel losing a son, father, or husband that was the man I merely called a friend and doctor. I'm rocked hard by his passing, reeling and unsure of what to do without him from that status alone, as I followed him to Blount memorial when he changed practices. I've never even considered another doctor. To me, there ARE no other doctors. I must not, he greatly respected his wife's talents as a medical practitioner, espousing himself, on more than one occasion, as not being her equal in the field of medicine. I want to write more, I want to talk about how easy to laugh he was, how humble and kind he was, how every time I saw him I didn't want to leave. The man saved my life multiple times through countless efforts that accumulated to the fact that I am still standing after 20 years of fighting 3 cancer diagnoses, and never once did he act as though he was owed a thing from anyone. He made his community better out of love and service, and all around him loved him. Coworkers sang his praises, as have I, since I'd had the fortune to meet him. East Tennessee is poorer in his absence, and his shoes, will never be filled. I will miss my friend for all my days. Thank you Matt, for having been you. God speed.
Martha Briggs
June 16, 2025
Matt was a great dermatologist and just a good person All the way around. My heart is heavy & my eyes full of tears. God Bless his family & friends.
Jerry and Sue Allen
February 24, 2025
Matt was our dermatologist for years. My husband and I saw him at St. Mary's in Knoxville, then in Alcoa. I remember telling him I was glad he didn't decide to go to Atlanta to practice after St. Mary closed; when he asked why, I told him we'd be driving to Atlanta to see him. He laughed. We took our disabled son to see him in Alcoa; he had a place on his leg that wouldn't heal. He was absolutely wonderful with our son. I will never forget Matt's smile. He always treated you like a friend, not just his patient. My husband and I were devastated when we learned of his death. He was one of a kind. I still expect to hear his voice and see that special smile he had when we have an appointment where he worked.
Lendelle Clark
August 3, 2024
He was Friendly, took time and always asked about my exchange students. He will be missed greatly.
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RONNIE & RITA BULL
July 31, 2024
He will be greatly missed SO Sorry for Your Loss ! He Was our Doctor for many years.
Pauline Fuson Hicks
July 29, 2024
I just learned of the passing of my wonderful dermatologist. I met Matt when he sewed my leg incision after a mose procedure apparently 15 years ago. I have followed him ever since to "at least" four clinics. Matt was always so attentive and caring. He seemed as family to me. I referred my husband and sister to him. I´ll miss that great smile and twinkle in his eyes whenever he saw me and always gave a great hug. Pauline Fuson Hicks
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