Matthew Tyler Aten, 39, of Meadowlakes died Nov. 11, 2015
Matthew Tyler Aten was born Aug. 27, 1976, in Cleburne, Texas, and passed away Nov. 11, 2015, in Meadowlakes.
He grew up in Kingsland and Llano and graduated from Llano High School in 1995. While there, he was a member of the National Honor Society, played basketball, ran cross country, played drums in the Yellow Jacket Band and was the first male cheerleader. He was also a member of Enloe’s Outlaws, the waterski team that performed at the Kingsland Aqua Boom Festival every 4th of July. He was active in the youth group at Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church and really enjoyed not only the church activities, including the Chrysalis weekend, but also the snow ski trips to Colorado and New Mexico.
Matthew graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. As a graduation present, he backpacked Australia with Rob Ross and celebrated the Millennium by the Sydney Opera House. While working for Chancel Construction, he was involved in the construction of some of the buildings at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. He also toured New York City with his grandmother, Opal Seals, and went to Carnegie Hall to see his cousin perform with the Aggie Choir.
Matthew was determined to live as full of a life as possible, so he played on three different wheelchair basketball teams: the Port City Spokesmen in Wilmington, North Carolina, the N.C. Tarwheels and the Austin Rec’cers. He went to the National Tournament in Denver twice, winning second place one year.
He moved to Meadowlakes in 2011 to help take care of his grandmother and was able to reconnect with many of his high school friends, which he really enjoyed. He celebrated his 39th birthday in August, and 10 of his college friends from North Carolina came to visit and have one final tailgate with him. It was a very special time for all of us!
Matthew requested a tailgate/barbecue in lieu of a traditional service, and we will celebrate his life by honoring his wish.
Matthew is survived by his mother and stepfather, Leigh Ann and Bill Lewis of Midland; father, Steve Aten of Fort Worth; brother and family, Christian and Anna, Rian Tyler, Dylan and Evan Aten of Orting, Washington; aunt Juli Aten and George Martin of Fort Worth; grandmother Opal Seals of Meadowlakes; uncle Mike and Dola Seals of Burleson; the Colorado relatives, Becky and Andy Hoke, Ken and Shannon Aten, Joe Aten, Jeannette and Dennis Vidmar; and many cousins who he dearly loved.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather Maston Bridges Seals.
Also, in lieu of flowers, donations to Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, would be appreciated. This institute has made great strides in helping others with ALD and AMN, so any donations would be appreciated.
Arrangements by Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 900 Industrial Blvd. in Kingsland, (325) 388-6767. Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net with condolences.