Matthew Scott Addison

1977 ∼ 2017

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Matthew Scott Addison, 40, of Conroe, Texas spent his last day, October 12, 2017, in one of natures most beautiful forests, the Big Thicket, in Southeast Texas. Matt, as he was affectionately known to his family and friends, was born on August 6, 1977, at St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur, Texas to Stephen and Patti McBride Addison. Matt graduated from Nederland High School and attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. When the family moved to Conroe, Matt attended Montgomery College. It was in his childhood that Matt began to love the outdoors. The camping and fishing trips he took with his mom, dad and brother introduced him to natures beauty within a couple hours drive from home. Matt was a voracious reader of all genres. However, he especially enjoyed Tolkien and books about philosophy. He was a master and teacher of rhetoric and debate, often challenging his aunts and mom to think deeply and defend their positions about their beliefs. Matt loved good wine and craft beer and was a gourmet cook. Matt's soul was warm, generous, easy-going, and social. This was often on display at the many social gatherings of his large, loving, sometimes slightly crazy, extended family. He could often be found at the center of the chaos, surrounded by younger cousins, playing games, or patiently teaching chess or guitar. Matt was a gentle, kind man who cared little about material goods and more about people, animals and nature. Matt is survived by his parents and brother, Jacob Addison and his partner, Jen Lotts of Austin, Texas; grandparents, Lindy and Llewellyn McBride of Port Neches, Texas; aunts, Carol Houseman, Mary McBride, Lorraine Rice, Christine Robicheaux and her husband, Doug, all of Spring, Texas, Kathy Hebert and husband, Jim, of Port Neches, Texas, and Kathy McBride of Groves, Texas; uncles, Tom Addison and his wife, Kathy, of Port Neches, Texas, Mike McBride and his wife, Allison, of Nederland, Texas, and Lee McBride and his wife, Barrette, of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and many, many cousins. Matt was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Lester and Margie Addison; uncles, Denver Houseman and Charles McBride; and cousin Zolote Hardin. Visitation for Matt will be on October 21, 2017 from 1:00pm until 3:00pm at Levingston Funeral Home, 2001 Nall Street, Port Neches, Texas 77651. His Memorial Service will begin at 3:00pm at the same location. Family and friends are invited to share their memories of Matt at the Memorial Service. Condolences may be left online at levingstonfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial donations be directed to the following: Doctorswithoutborders.org, Aspca.org, Nationalparksfoundation.org or a charity of your choice.

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Levingston Funeral Home November 2, 2021

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Matthew Scott Addison August 4, 2020

Matthew Scott Addison

Anonymous October 23, 2017

For those who vould not sttend Matt's service, I'd like to share Jake's eulogy of his brother, Matt. I want to begin with a quote on grief and love, from JRR Tolkien - "The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater." On growing up with Matt What was it like to grow up with Matt? We we're like most young brothers close in age - contentious. When I was young I often compared Matt to the antagonistic older brother Wayne in the TV show 'The Wonder Years'. This was of course far from the truth. Even though we both provoked each other, he was a loving, protective, and kind big brother. I will always hold in my heart fond memories from our childhood of riding around the neighborhood on our bikes, playing with our GI Joes, Legos, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and of course, my favorites, Atari, Nintendo, and Computer games. Matt was always my role model. I was the kid brother. I was always trying to tag along and be part of what Matt was doing or what he was interested in. And He would often let me. It really wasn't until I was about 18 though and we were going to community college together that we became more than brothers. We became brothers who were best friends as well. We put behind any rivalry we had as children and embraced what certainly bothered us both when we were younger - we were so much alike. I am so thankful that we were able to develop this deeper friendship. On Nature It was in our childhood that we both developed a great love and appreciation for nature as our Dad, Steve, often took us fishing (if we could wake up early enough at 5am!). Anyone who knew Matt knew he really loved his sleep so the fact that he made it on many of these trips speaks volumes. Mom and Dad also took us on several camping trips where we could appreciate swimming in streams, hiking trails, and perhaps best of all, hearing Dad's stories around the campfire. One of these stories in particular stood out to me and Matt. A story from JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings... Dad had decided that in the dark of night, surrounded by woods, the best story to tell his two young sons, who both had mild arachnophobia, was the story of the small hobbits Frodo and Sam and their encounter with the elephant-sized spider Shelob. And he was right! We loved it! On Tolkien That story, along with the Tolkien cartoon movies were the first steps that led to Matt's absolute love for Tolkien's works. Let me be clear here, Matt would have wanted me too... He greatly loved Tolkien's books not the Peter Jackson movies. While he greatly enjoyed the movies, you would not have been able to stop Matt from telling you what Jackson got wrong. How the movies diverged from the books and what a tremendous tragedy that was for Matt. He was a purist when it came to Tolkien. Matt's favorite Tolkien book and his favorite book period was 'The Silmarillion'. This book is about the creation, early history, and mythology of Tolkien's carefully crafted universe. It's too dense for most people but he read it multiple times. My girlfriend Jen once said, 'Matt could teach a college course on Tolkien'. One night me and Matt and Jen were all hanging out having some drinks. And Matt and I had finally talked Jen into humoring us and watching the first of the Lord of the Ring movies. Matt, who normally cannot abide people talking in movies could not help himself. With the obvious aid of alcohol he gave us a DVD-special feature-level commentary on the movie. What was different from the books, what part was the Director's invention, what detail should they have included, etc. At first attempts were made to get him to be quiet but we were soon being more entertained by Matt than the movie and we just let him go on his impassioned personal crusade/vendetta against Peter Jackson. He did this while standing next to the TV like it was a PowerPoint presentation. It was hilarious and a night Jen and I will never forget. On Integrity and Bravery I want you to know about my brother's Integrity and his Bravery. Matt was always set on doing the right thing. And doing things the right way. There were no corners cut or shortcuts taken. It did not matter what the personal consequences were to him. In his personal life or in his work life he was a man of utmost integrity. When I was maybe 12-13 and Matt was maybe 15-16 we went to our family's camp at Cow Creek and several of my friends came along. We were swimming in a bend in the creek where each side had a clay bank. A pregnant dog, a blue-heeler I believe, was meandering along one side of the bank. On an opposite bank were 4 or 5 large, intimidating, poorly tattooed, 18-20 something, future Felons. They suddenly started pelting this poor pregnant dog with clay balls formed from the bank. Their strikes were starkly audible and the dog cried out in pain. My brother bravely confronted this larger, older pack of men who outnumbered him and each vastly outweighed him, he asked them to please leave the dog alone. They proceeded to intimidate him and slap him in his face. But in turning their attention away from the dog he had saved it from further abuse and possibly saved the dog and her litter. I regret to say that my friends and I were not as brave and not much help to Matt. Matt had guts with good intentions. On Cooking & Food Matt's penchant for not cutting corners was also evident in his cooking. He was a great chef but you might have to wait a while to eat. No one else could make a 45 min grilled cheese like Matt. He certainly got those gourmet skills from my Mom, Patti, who has always been an excellent cook and whose cakes are legendary in my family. He and my Parents were cooking buddies and they would often work on many dishes together. Dad dubbed Matt the 'Salad King'. His salads were some of the best we ever had and he made what is often the most boring part of a meal delicious and new. Matt loved spicy foods, Asian foods, and anything with basil. On Wonder, Play, and Affinity with Children One aspect of my brother that made him so special to everyone that loved him, whether they recognized this about him or not, was he never let becoming an adult ruin his fun. He maintained his child-like ability to see the world with new eyes and have a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. I think this is also why Matt was so great with children. He loved to interact and play with them and they also loved him. I know he developed a special relationship with several of our younger cousins and loved playing fun games with them or making music and singing. On Generosity, Kindness, and Thoughtfulness. Matt was generous, thoughtful, and kind. If you were in need you didn't even need to be a friend, he would help you. Many people here today have had Matt help them move. Many people might scurry like cockroaches at the mention of a move but not Matt. If Matt even heard the word 'move' he would ask if he could help. I often was begrudgingly roped in to help. Matt was a giver. If you were a friend going through a hard time or struggling with depression Matt would drop everything and come to keep you company and cheer you up with his conversation, music, or simply his positive personality. Matt gave great gifts. They were thoughtful gifts. He recently gave me a signed copy of a George RR Martin book, one of my favorite authors. Even when Matt did not have any money to spare, he spent what money he had on gifts for his loved ones. To quote Tolkien again, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." That quote is reflective of who Matt was, he made this world better. The greatest gift Matt ever gave me and the greatest thing Matt ever did for me was when he went to lunch with his ex-girlfriend Stephanie and her roommate Jen. After talking with Jen a while he told her, 'you know, I think you should meet my brother. I think y'all might really get along'. He later called me and said, 'You need to ask this girl out, I think y'all might really get along.' I did call that girl and now Jen is the love of my life, we've been together for 9 years, and she has been a pillar of strength to me in these trying times. She is beautiful, intelligent, and kind. 3 out of 3 brother, not too shabby. Thank you so much Matt. Closing I can't really express to you what Matt meant to me. He was perhaps the greatest single influence on my life. My confidant. He was my best friend & brother. My drinking buddy and the only person who liked every geeky thing I like. I will miss sharing our fancy craft beers and staying up all night playing games, drinking, and talking about video games, philosophy, or strange movies that only you liked. You are irreplaceable to me brother and there is now a void that will last the rest of my days. To close I'd like to read a Tolkien Poem. "The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say" Brother, I hope I and all your loved ones meet with you again upon whatever Road you are now on. I love you Matt. Thank you.

Anonymous October 23, 2017

Matt was one of my first cousins even though I was the youngest out of 19 grandchildren he always made me feel like I was the oldest. He taught me how to play chess and to live to the fullest. Matt would never let me win in anything we did so that made me practice harder and that taught me that if you work hard enough to achieve something then you would achieve it. I will never forget him and every time I play soccer or any sport I will think of him and how much he love soccer.

Anonymous October 22, 2017

Yesterday I sat there and listened to all the stories and just shook my head in agreement with each one. That was Matt. A gentle, kind and beautiful man whose presence will be irreplaceable in my life. He was the best friend anyone could have. Always there. Never judging. I even had a moving story which included him driving me to Dallas before hand to look for apartments. But I couldn't stand. Each time the microphone was passed around the rock in my stomach grew harder. One lady stood up and described his mother and it gave me insight to how he was shaped into such a beautiful caring soul. He always made sure we stayed in touch over the years. No matter the moves or distance he'd always find me and we would pick up where we left off. He always spoke so highly and proud of his family. He loved spending time with his parents cooking, loved his cousins and thought his & jakes dogs were the coolest pups this side of heaven. He left an impression on all my friends that he met especially with his cooking. I'll miss his music, the sound of his voice and the warmth of his character. I'm privileged to have been able to call him a friend and to be able to have shared so much life with him. He will forever be in my heart. Love and healing prayers to you all.

Anonymous October 21, 2017

I am so sorry for the loss of Matthew. I pray that God will comfort your hearts at this most difficult time. My prayers are with you.

Anonymous October 21, 2017

Steve, we were so very sorry to hear of your son's passing. You have our undying love and prayers.