S. Matt Magrath, Ph.D., peacefully passed away on April 3, 2017 after a one-year battle with esophageal cancer. Matt was born June 3, 1957 in McCook, Nebraska, where he spent all his formative years, to Kathleen (Koeller) and Dr. Joseph Magrath. He was born the third son of six children.
After graduating high school, he decided to spread his wings to find his own adventures. This led him to Virden, Illinois, and back to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he studied at the University of Nebraska before deciding he wanted to do something else with his life.
In his mind, he kept hearing “Go West, young man, Go West,” so he embarked on what would become his greatest and most fruitful adventure. With the Pacific Northwest in mind, he hopped on his motorcycle and set out for Bellingham, intending to enroll at Western Washington University.
He eventually graduated from WWU as a chemical dependency counselor. Before he graduated, he met Karla Kok, a native of Lynden, whom he dated for six years before they wed on May 18, 1984 at Bethel Christian Reformed Church. They were thrice blessed with children, first with Paul Marvin (1986), then Jordan Matthew (1989) and finally Tara Jo (1990).
Matt’s mission was to help the less fortunate, or (as he called them) the underdog. He hoped to guide others in their quest to be the best they could be, and this mission guided his work with addiction patients at St. Joseph Hospital and on the Lummi Indian Reservation (where he worked for nearly 20 years). He also spent a majority of his spare time developing youth sports programs in Lynden and throughout Whatcom County.
His final mission was to complete his doctorate, which he achieved in May 2016 from Antioch University. His Ph.D. was obtained in Leadership & Change with a focus on Addiction Studies.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Magrath, and his mother-in-law, Alena Kok.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Karla; his son Paul, daughter-in-law Tammy and two grandsons Jaxon and Logan (and a third grandchild on the way); his son Jordan and daughter-in-law Leah; and his daughter Tara. He also leaves behind his mother, Kathleen, and his five siblings: Mike (Tammy), Barney (Sarah), Sheila (Jerry), Larry (Lori), and Monica (Raviv). He was loved by an extended family of numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 15, in Monumenta Cemetery with a church service following at 11:30 a.m. in Faith Community Church.
Memorial gifts in Matt’s honor should be made to the Dr. Matt Magrath Scholarship, which can be sent to Antioch University, Attn: Leslee Creighton, 900 Dayton St., Yellow Springs, OH 45387.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
