Michael Lee Matteson of Newport departed this life on Monday, June 8, 2020, at the age of 18. He was born January 7, 2002, at Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the son of John Gunn Matteson, III, and Mattie Fay (Maynard).
Michael was a 2020 graduate of Newport High School, where he played football for the Newport Greyhounds. He was active in the JROTC and had expressed a desire to enlist in the United States Army. Michael had a wonderful heart and was a real people person who never met a stranger. He was always smiling and making people happy. Michael enjoyed fishing and had a great love for his family, especially his nieces and nephews.
He had recently begun working at Peco, and was active in church camp, where he attained his goal of becoming a mentor just this year.
Michael was preceded in death by his father, John Gunn Matteson, III; his maternal grandfather, William Maynard; and his paternal grandfather, John Gunn Matteson, II.
He is survived by his mother and step-father, Mattie Fay and Chris Hull of Newport; three brothers, John Gunn Matteson, IV, and wife Jenise, of Swifton, Justin William Matteson of Newport, and Gevon “Snook” Davis of Newport; his sisters, Deena Matteson of San Marcos, California, Ashley Matteson and Derek Cagle of Newport, Amber Matteson Stevens, and husband, Marcus, of Swifton; one step-sister, Tracie Lay of Bakersfield, California; his paternal grandmother, Audrey Jean Matteson of Bakersfield, California, and Linda Matteson of Bakersfield, California; his maternal grandmother, Martha Maynard, Fairdealing, Missouri; and many other family and friends who will miss him greatly.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are John Matteson, Justin Matteson, Gevon “Snook” Davis, Chris Hull, Marcus Stevens, and Derek Cagle. Honorary pallbearers are Austin Smith, Duane Boncheff, members of the NHS Class of 2020, and NHS Greyhounds.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Friday, noon until service time. Funeral service is 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2020, at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel, with interment in Watson Cemetery.
