"The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has helped us to regain our lives after the death of our son 10 years ago. Working as volunteers for the foundation has been rewarding and healing. Helping others has helped us deal with our loss and grief over the death of our youngest son in the line of duty. Without the help and support of all the people we have met through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, we would not be where we are or have the outlook on life we do today. As survivors of an LODD, we are very blessed to have this organization to help us in our time of need. Without funding and support from all over the United States, this non-profit foundation would not be able to help the 100 or so families it helps each and every year."
Matt was born at home on Ruby Drive in Lakeport on July 18, 1978. He was a graduate of Clear Lake High School, Class of 1997. During his years at Clear Lake High School, he was a member both of the Sheriff's Department Explorers and the Lakeport Fire Department Explorers. For a while during his senior year, he was torn between becoming a policeman or a fireman. When he was 8 he wanted to follow in his big brother's footsteps, Mike Jones, and become a fireman. Mike is a Captain with the Santa Rosa Fire Department. He idolized his big brother and wanted to be just like him. He became a volunteer fireman at Lakeport in 1998. After high school he took classes at Mendicino College and had decided to attend the Fire Academy in the fall of 1999. His dream to become a real career fireman (he was a volunteer) was never fulfilled, as his life was cut short on the 23rd of June in 1999 – just a few days before his 21st birthday. He died doing what he wanted to do.
He loved sports and played a lot of them. He played soccer, football, basketball, wrestling and ice hockey. He played hockey for the Belmont Rangers and played in the National Championships in 1994. He was passionate about car racing and water sports – he loved his jet ski and boating. He enjoyed western music and dancing. He had a Russian Blue cat named Eishia that he got for his 10th birthday, and a Queensland Blue Heeler dog that he bought during his last year in high school. We kept both of his pets until they passed away in 2005.
Matt was a wonderful son; we were very proud of him. Matt was a very loveable, funny, loving person. He could make everyone laugh. He was even voted class clown in his senior year. He was warm and sensitive, and very easy to get to know. He always had a lot of friends. He is missed very much by his family and friends.
Matt died in the line of duty with the Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department on June 23, 1999 – just a few days short of his 21st birthday, which he planned to spend in Hawaii with some of his best friends since early childhood.
My husband and I have devoted ourselves to working for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Matthew's honor. It is a non-profit national organization that has helped us and so many others cope with a line-of-duty death.
There is a Scholarship Fund at the Lakeport Fire Department in Matt's memory. It is given each year to a student from Clear Lake High School who wants to have a career in Public Service.