Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Happy St. Patrick's Day My Beautiful Smiling Eyes!!

Momma

March 17, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day :). I can say that because it's almost over lol. Miss you terribly.....the holiday I love to hate made worse because you're not here to push me even farther over the edge. I had a great moment though when Ethan pulled out on his first Valentine Day delivery (can you believe that, oh my gosh!!) and he pealed out (for the benefit of his mom I'm sure, who was taking his picture through the window) and I yelled "remind him he has flowers in the back of that car!!!" Oh my word, so much like you. So many memories, good ones and stressful ones, but memories none the less. I love you and miss you; but I always know you're here.

Momma

February 14, 2016

I'm not sure what possessed to me to check up on this website tonight... if I should tell the truth, I had almost forgotten that it existed. I changed my major to criminal justice, if you were here, I feel like you'd find some type of short joke or snide remark to make about my size and how i'm supposed to think i'm gonna be able to chase any bad guys down... I have faith it'll all be okay though, truthfully I have the best type of guardian angels watching over me because law enforcement was your specialty, and grandpa's was being patient and humble towards people, even the most undesirable to be around. I've been thinking deeper lately, how I can make some type of positive impact on those around me. I know you look down and see the world now, everyone shunning police and so much negativity and hatred filling the minds of youth towards law enforcement. I don't understand it; but it isn't my place to. I can only hope to impact as many lives as you did. all my professors know of you, it's funny because they always have something good to say. it's seldom you have a cop who gets all good reviews. anyway, none of this is why I felt like writing. lately I feel so lost within not only my family but friends as well. my feelings have been so hurt and tender lately, I've really been struggling with really everything about my life. sometimes its selfish but I wish I could have ya for a day and just talk. just vent and talk things through, maybe hear some advice; everyone whom I speak to says you knew what to say to cheer someone up at their lowest, even in handcuffs. I miss you, I will never forget that night. I cried because mom was crying... it dawned on me later just how special you were to me even though I was so young. you knocked my tooth out, you introduced me to peanut butter on the spoon, (which is something I still do, thanks)... regardless, you over all made me feel so loved and protected as a kid. I forever appreciate you and miss you and love you. smoke a cigar with grandpa for me, tell a couple jokes, and give a couple big hugs. i'll see you again one day.

Olivia Grace Hardie
baby cousin

February 11, 2016

Precious Son of My Life,

Once again closing up the shop on Christmas Eve and thinking of you. You are as close as ever, just wish I could put my arms around you and never let you go. You did a good (great lol) job with Ethan and Ella's presents this year. You set a high bar!!

I'm sure you have laughed over dad's yard decorations this year. We added your little jeep to the scene, so now the police car is chasing the jeep which you (portrayed by a monkey haha) are driving as your sisters hang on in the back seat ( portrayed by Rudolf and a bear). It's a crazy menagerie of stuff, which is the story of our life, and it's a GREAT story. "The Never Ending Story".

I read this verse in a book the other day and knew immediately I wanted to send it to you. You and God already know what occasionally I only catch glimpses of.

"They shall all bloom in fields of light,
Transplanted by my care,
And saints, upon their garments white,
These sacred blossoms wear."

And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The flowers she most did love;
She knew she should find them all again
In the fields of light above.

O, not in cruelty, not in wrath,
The Reaper came that day;
'Twas an angel visited the green earth,
And took the flowers away.

How blessed I am to be your mother, I could not have been given more.

Always and forever, to infinity and beyond, I love you my precious smiling eyes.

Momma

December 24, 2015

Just wanted to say thank you . I know you are still looking over your dear mother. Such a fine officer, brother and son.

Special Agent T.D. Holcomb
NS Railroad

December 17, 2015

Just a note to let your family know that you are thought about at this Holiday Season.
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the Lord has provided for us.
I want to thank the Lord for giving us our sons for a little while. They were a blessing to us.
May God continue to comfort your family at this time of year.

Lorraine
Mother of a Fallen Deputy

November 28, 2015

Heaven must surely be worth it all.

I love you my precious son.

You are always my smiling eyes.

Momma

November 21, 2015

Matt just want you to know you have not been forgotten and never will be. Still hard to think about what happened and never be able to understand. But your soul and spirit lives on in your family I see them occasionally out and about they are one strong family.

friend

October 23, 2015

I love you.
My heart and mind is filled with YOU.

Momma

September 16, 2015

There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about you. May 11th and September 16th are very memorable days. Just know that you will never be forgotten and always missed!

Chief Deputy Tim Phillips
Roane County Sheriff's Office

September 16, 2015

Blessed are the Peacemakers.

I love you.

I miss you.

Momma

September 11, 2015

I love you.

Momma

July 25, 2015

Thank you sir. Thin blue line is a little thinner without you but others with the dedication and courage it takes are stepping up. My son is an officer in Jacksonville fl., I know what it takes to be a part of a small band of brothers and sisters. Thank you sir for doing your part most do not have the backbone to do.

Special Agent, retired.
Norfolk Southern RR Police.

May 26, 2015

Matt, I never had the pleasure of meeting you, however, I did have the honor of lifting your name from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. After meeting your Father on the Metro Rail at King St. And hearing your story I was compelled to visit the Memorial. By chance, I happened to be in town during Police week and shared a few stories with your Dad as we waited for the metro to take him to the airport and me into town. I wanted your family to know your memories and service will never be forgotten. My condolences to your family and extended family. God Bless.

Mr. Gabriel Pierce
Army & Air Force Exchange Service

May 16, 2015

Happy Birthday Matt!

Chief Deputy
Roane County Sheriff's Office

May 11, 2015

I love you. You were the best Mother's Day gift I could have ever gotten.

Momma

May 9, 2015

Its the funny little things that make me think of you. I've been keeping track of the Indiegogo for Super Troopers 2 and I can't imagine how many of the Perks you would've bought. I would pay a lot more than $100 for them to leave you a voicemail with some of your favorite phrases from the first movie. I remember fighting over that movie at the Dirty Santa Gift Exchange and neither one of us ended up getting it. Miss you brother, each and every day.

Amanda
Former HPD

April 23, 2015

Happy Easter My Beautiful Son. This day above all I feel the peace, and hope, and reassurance that I Will see and be with you again. Without that I would not be able to go on. I just keep looking at your pictures as I walk by them and smiling at you knowing you are in an amazing place and longing for when we are all back together again. You are always in the midst of everything we do and loved more than earthly words can convey.

Momma

April 6, 2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day My Beautiful "Smiling Eyes" Boy.
I love you and Miss you. We will toast you tonight at our Irish Supper. (My house smells like an authentic Irish Pub I used so much Guiness last night while I was simmering the meat for the Beef and Stout Pies!!!! How I wish you were here. Love you Love you Love you.

Momma

March 17, 2015

The reflection I left you for Valentine's Day has never appeared, maybe it sounded too sad and you wanted me to do it over, so okay :)! I missed you missed you.....(.can't make me stop saying that) but when I got home that night after finishing everything up, and finally crawled into bed I was able to lay there and just remember YOU......and what you always brought to every holiday at the shop.....the hysterical laughter, the threats from me that I was going to "fire" you, the hugs and big arm around me telling me "to settle down", the delivery races with your sisters, sneaking next door to Vickie's to hide from me and lay on her couch while I frantically wondered what was taking you so long on the delivery.......on and on and on.......but always underlying it all was the devotedness of you to us and our family business. The pride you felt making the holidays be successful, making sure we always had plenty of your police buddies helping deliver, postponing your own valentine celebrations and being so happy that the girl understood. What I don't, and never will understand is the why of this life. I don't ask or dwell on that too much anymore, just occasionally I can't press it down and it tries to take me down. Then I just think of YOU and all you were, and all you gave us, and still give us, and all I have here still, and what I have to look forward to seeing you again. That keeps me going until I don't have to anymore. I love love love you and am soooooooo thankful that I was your momma. You are the best.

To eternity and beyond I love you.

Momma

February 18, 2015

I kept trying to sit down here on Christmas Eve like I always do and close the evening out with you after I close the shop but one thing kept leading to another and all of a sudden it was Christmas night and I was laying in bed wondering what in the world. I went up on your hill and talked to you and daddy and just shook my head like I always do as I left trying to either shake reality into or out of my head, I am never really sure on that point. The only thing I am sure of is how much I miss you and need you simultaneously knowing you are right beside me. I love you Matthew. You were right in the middle of all of our celebrating yesterday; it was almost bedlam as the gifts were being handed out and unwrapped; thank you for never leaving us.

loving you to eternity and beyond
momma

December 26, 2014

Matt remembering you and your family today.
This is such a hard time of year.
It brings back good and bad memories, why couldn't you be here for your Mom and Dad and family?
We all try to do a "new normal" but most of the time it doesn't work, I know that you are missed so much.
God bless your family and continue to give them comfort.

LorraineBond

December 24, 2014

Precious Son there have been so many officer deaths recently. My heart breaks for what the families will be going through now. I know you are there as they enter heaven with your beautiful smile. Make sure they know how important it is to send those signs that we all need so badly down here to keep going on. A customer brought a "new" picture of you in the other day, she's had it for more than 10 years and it was the "right" time to bring it in. It was like you were here.....and you were. I love you forever and beyond.

Momma
Always missing you.

October 31, 2014

It's 9/20 and we are on the way to the Alamo!!! Thanks my precious 920 Son. I love you dearly and know you are with us as we take this trip for Daddy/Grandpa.

Momma

September 20, 2014

Matt,

It's been 10 years and you are missed by so many. I often wonder how things would be if you were here. I stopped by the cemetery this morning and I decided to take a picture of your giant cross, as I went to unlock my phone to take a picture the time was 920. I don't think that was by chance. Thanks for all the funny memories!

Chief Deputy Tim Phillips
Roane County Sheriff's Office

September 16, 2014