Matthew S. Willkie

WILLKIE, MATTHEW S. May 7, 1960 to Oct 22, 2005 Matt was born in San Diego and grew up in Paradise Hills, the youngest of 4 boys. He graduated from Lee Elementary, Bell Jr. High, and Morse High schools. After high school Matt attended junior college and worked as a waiter and a valet, with a long stint at the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown. A few years later Matt moved up to the Newport Beach area while continuing as a waiter and part-time student. Matt eventually moved to Elko, Nevada with the intention to work as a miner in the gold mines of northern Nevada. He began his mining career in 1997 in Elko. Matt loved working in the mining business. At about the same time he met his future wife Jennifer. They married in 1999, with Matt enthusiastically adopting Alex, an energetic 4 yr old with autism. As a parent with additional challenges Matt was a role model, using vacation time to attend seminars dealing with the topic of raising autistic children. Matt was also the glue of family gatherings, with his young nieces and nephews eagerly waiting for him to arrive at each holiday event. In 2001 Andrew was born into the family then in 2004 a daughter Zoe was born. Anyone that saw Matt with his family noticed what a devoted husband and parent he was. Matt was a fully contented family man with a warmth and compassion that touched all his family and friends. Matt died in a mining accident Oct. 22nd. He leaves Jennifer and the 3 children, his mother Julia, brothers Dan, Jim and John, as well as Jim's wife Lynda and their children Chad, Tara, Ryan, and Shannon. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com