In Loving Memory
Matthew R. Gibbs
March 4, 1968 ~ February 17, 2021

Matthew Richard Gibbs, age 52, passed away peacefully at home beside his loving fiancé on February 17, 2021 after a brave battle with cancer. Matt was born in Syracuse, N.Y. on March 4, 1968. Matt was predeceased in 2019 by his mother in law Mary Merritt.

Matt is survived by his fiancé and love of his life Mary Anna McConnell, beloved children Justin (Paula) Gibbs, Elizabeth (Matt) LaComb, Melissa (Randy) Gibbs, Ericka (Dylan) Reed, and James McConnell, beloved grandchildren Talon, Aliyah, Adden, Leland, Natalie, Allie, Jaxson, Emitt, Carter, and Madison, loving sister Claire (Jim) Boucher, brother in law: Bryan, father in law Andrew Martin, nieces and nephews Ryan, Beckett, Shane, Jen, Destiny, Kayleb, Sean, Aidan, Wyatt, Billy the goat, who specifically called for Matt by name.
Matt’s career reflected his brilliance for small engine repair. His love for small engines poured into his everyday life. He spent a great deal of time with his good friend Chauncey at his junk yard finding “Matt treasures” to bring home to his brother in law, Bryan. If Matt couldn’t fix it, no one could.

Matt enjoyed many hobbies. Besides his deep passion for small engines, Matt also enjoyed music, cars, ATV’s, motorcycles, lawn mowers, and mopeds. Matt also had a love for coffee like no other. His favorite place to be was in the back yard alongside his camper, surrounded by friends and family, with food cooking on the grill and tinkering with all of his “Matt treasures”. The days in the backyard of course would not be complete without Billy the goat by his side getting into everything he possibly could. Billy often took off with Matt’s tools. Matt’s love for animals was extraordinary.

When Matt took ill, he took even more enjoyment to the little things. Sometimes it was a lazy Saturday in bed watching MASH marathons with his sweetheart, Mary Anna. Sometimes it was enjoying a whopper on the way home from a doctor appointment. Sometimes it was laying around teaching his niece, Destiny all about Joe Dirt.
Matt will be forever remembered for his great sense of humor, his love for life, family, friends, and animals, his kindness, his “redneck” personality, and his sweet and unforgettable beard. He will be greatly missed and cherished forever.

Services and burial for Matt will be in the spring at the Vermillion cemetery in Mexico, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations towards Matt’s headstone can be sent to Mary Anna.

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