Matthew Thomas Merklein, son of Shawn & Rebecca (Smith) Merklein, was born October 19, 2000 in Hays, KS.  He passed away November 6, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE at the age of 19.

Matthew grew up in Phillipsburg where he attended school, graduating with the PHS Class of 2019.  He was attending Wichita Technical Institute in Topeka, KS.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing & playing video games.  He also enjoyed playing baseball, soccer & golfing with his grandpa.  He enjoyed music & had recently started playing piano & writing music.  Matthew's pets were also a very important to him.

He was preceded in death by grandma Lea Smith, grandma Sarah Merklein  great grandad Sam Douglass, his great grandparents Paul & Audrey Tompkins , Joyce & Omer Vierthaler.

Survivors include his parents, Shawn & Rebecca of the home in Phillipsburg; his maternal grandparents, Fred & Jaci Smith of Englewood, KS; paternal grandfather Dennis Merklein of Prairie View; paternal grandparents, Ryan & Cindy Horner of Phillipsburg; aunts & uncles: Shawn & Meranda Smith of Laverne,OK, Josh Smith & Fiancee Pamela Lyon, Blake & Felishia Smith of Phillipsburg, Jamie Merklein of Auburn, KS & their families & many cousins & friends.

Matthew was a very kind & giving person.  He was always there to help & always thought of others first.  He will be sadly missed by his family & many friends.

Cremation was chosen.  A Memorial Service will be held Monday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. in the Huck Boyd Community Center, Phillipsburg, with Pastors Lee Bennight & Lorna Paulus officiating.

Visitation will be  from 12:00 to 9:00 Sunday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Matthew Thomas Merklein Memorial Fund.