Obituary of Matthew Everett Page

Matthew Everett Page was born December 27, 1972, to Raymond Everett and Elena Kay Page. The oldest of four children, he was raised in Southern California, and loved the ocean, building with his hands, and playing music. When he was 16, he was the bone marrow donor for his sister Lisa, which was a defining experience of his young life. Matthew attended Dana Hills High School, where he was a member of the drum line, an activity that became a lifelong passion. He completed coursework at Saddleback College and the California State Universities at Chico and Sacramento. He had a keen interest in geography and photography. As an adult, Matthew lived in California, Oregon, and Illinois. He was a kind, genial man, making friends and connecting with people from all walks of life. In 2016, Matthew’s life took a turn when he was struck by an automobile as a pedestrian. He underwent multiple surgeries and hospital stays, and was told he would not walk again without assistance. Over the course of several months, Matthew worked hard to prove them wrong. At 6’2”, upon first standing up from his wheelchair, he thought, “Wow, I guess I really am tall!” Matthew was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer in 2019, and relocated to the Portland, Oregon area shortly thereafter. He spent the remainder of his life reconnecting with family, caring for his beloved dog Elske (“Love” in Norwegian), and enjoying the beauty of Oregon’s mountains and forests with new friends. He died in his home after a sharp downturn in his health. Throughout his adulthood, Matthew struggled with substance addiction, but took comfort from and made forward progress through his church and Alcoholics Anonymous. His family is grateful to all who were supportive of Matthew on his journey, and showed him love, especially during difficult times. He will be greatly missed. Matthew is survived by his mother, Elena; his siblings Michael (Maya) and Laura (CJ), and their children; and his grandmother Mary Blakeney. He was preceded in death by his sister Lisa and father Raymond. A small private memorial will be held on the Oregon Coast in early September.