Matthew Lorton
Jerseyville |
Matthew Jude Lorton's body passed away at 8:25 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2011, at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur at the age of 47.
Matt was born on Feb. 10, 1964, in Jerseyville to George and Jean (Dunn) Lorton. He was the youngest of five siblings and spent his childhood in Hardin. He graduated from Calhoun High School in 1982. After high school graduation, Matt began his professional career working for his father George's electric company. Matt would go on through his life to put work in as a carpenter, electrician, and boat and car salesman, among other things.
Shortly after his high school graduation, Matt married Lisa Ann Goetten from Fieldon on Nov. 12, 1983. Lisa is the middle of three children to Richard and Loretta Goetten of Fieldon. Matt and Lisa were blessed over the years with a total of five girls. Leslie Ann was the oldest in 1984, followed by Lauren Ashley in 1986, followed by twins Erica Jude and Rebeca Elise in 1991, with Chloe Elizabeth finally coming in 1999.
Matt was devoted to his Christian faith throughout his life, practicing in St. Norbert's parish in Hardin for most of his life before switching to St. Mary's parish in Fieldon shortly before his passing. Matt made it widely known that his faith became significantly stronger in 1997 after attending a Cursillo weekend in Quincy, Ill. From that point forward, Matt made it his life's work to humbly dedicate his personal, professional and church life to the glory of the Lord.
Matt's life ministry was irreversibly altered in June 1999 when he sustained a cervical spinal cord injury after a pool-diving accident that left him paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Matt used the Lord's grace to handle this potentially disparaging incident with humor and joy. He took on the self-proclaimed persona of "The Quad" and used his unique life-situation as a platform to improve the lives of those with whom he came into contact. While still rehabbing from his injury, Matt returned to school and would go on to achieve both a bachelor's and a master's degree. With his newly acquired communication training, Matt spent much of his time after his accident sharing his story with groups and sending out his ever-popular "Quad's Corner" series of emails. In the last year of his life, this chain of emails and letters was published and put into book format, entitled "Tails from the Crip."
Matt's days on earth will be remembered for his endearing charisma and never-ending joy. He lived his life without grudges and carried the belief that every person he came into contact with was a fellow child of Christ deserving of the utmost love and respect.
Shortly before his passing while attending a play at The Muny in St. Louis, Matt was heard to have said how it was the goal of his speaking and ministry to someday speak to a crowd of that magnitude. What he did not realize but is now perfectly evident is that he was living his life in a way that had effects on people tenfold that size each and every day. The influence that the Lord put out through Matt is significant and will not dissipate with the passing of his body.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa, of Jerseyville; daughter, Leslie (Lorton) Hamm and her husband, Chris, of Kirkwood; daughter, Lauren of Machesney Park, Ill.; daughter Erica of Creve Coeur; daughter, Rebeca of Creve Coeur; and daughter, Chloe of Jerseyville. His mother, Jean Lorton, is still living in Hardin. His eldest sister, Deborah Flock, lives in Plant City, Fla., with her husband, Eric. His brother, Jeff, lives in Grafton with his wife, Sandy; his brother, Chris, lives in Jerseyville with his wife, Brenda; and his sister, Cindy Sievers, lives in Meppen with her husband, Raymond. His father and mother-in-law, Richard and Loretta, live in Fieldon.
He is preceded in death by his father, George E. Lorton, in 1994.
Visitation services for Matt will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, with the prayer service at 8 p.m. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Holy Ghost Church in Jerseyville, with burial to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Fieldon.
For those desiring, any acts of kindness may be directed in the form of a memorial established for his youngest daughter Chloe's future educational needs in care of the funeral home.
Crawford Funeral Home
