Matt Hales
Matt Hales
A tribute by Katie Clarin, Best Friend… Forever
July 31, 1983- July 20, 2011
Matt Hales was taken from his family and friends in a tragic car accident in Greenville, NC on July 20th 2011. He had already survived a near-fatal car accident toward the end of his sophomore year in high school. Matt lived the next 11 years with more appreciation for life than most people.
He graduated with his Bachelors Degree from Grand Valley State University in 2006. The next year Matt married Stephanie (Cole) Hales also a Rockford Graduate and they moved to Greenville, NC where Matt took a position as a Specialty Sales Representative for Shionogi Pharma, Inc. Along with his wife, Matt’s real pride and joy were his two beautiful children.
When Matt talked it was obvious they were his entire world. At the time of his death, his son Noah Matthew was almost 2 years old and his new daughter, Chloe Marcella was just shy of 4 months old. Matt knew he was given a gift after his first accident and he was determined to live his life trying to change lives and make the world a better place. He did this in the way he lived, worked, and loved.
His sense of humor was just as it was 10 years ago when he was in high school. Matt was never hesitant to help those in need. Outside of family and work Matt was extremely proud of his political blog, Bookworm Patriots. In the year since Matt’s passing, he is still missed every single day by his family and friends. Thankfully, his two children and wife carry on his wonderful legacy and they know they have a very special angel in heaven watching over them.
North Carolina highway
Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 11:44 PM
ROCKFORD — A Rockford High School graduate whose valiant efforts to return to school and its swim team after a near-fatal crash was chronicled in The Press in 2001, was killed Wednesday when the SUV he was driving rear-ended a slow-moving farm tractor on a North Carolina road.
Police said Matthew Kevin Hales, 27, died in the crash on U.S. 264 in Pitt County, NC, according to the Reflector.com online news site.
The collision occurred when Hales’ vehicle, going about 70 mph, rounded a bend in the highway and came upon the tractor pulling a sprayer, which was going about 20 mph.
Police are investigating for possible charges because state law prohibits farm vehicles from traveling on highways with limited access.
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