Matt Wyeth Crain

Matt Wyeth Crain, 56, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. He died of natural causes near his residence in Phoenix. Funeral and burial services took place in Phoenix on Aug. 22, 2014.

Matt was born on Dec. 10, 1957, in Havre, Montana, to Anna (Parker) Crain and Allan Crain of Rocky Boy, Montana. He spent his formative years in Sitka, Alaska, where he graduated from high school in 1975. After is his family moved back to Montana in 1975, he attended college at York, Pennsylvania, where he met and married Jeanne Sutherland. They had a son, Chase Crain, who was his pride and joy.

Matt continued his education at CSU in Fort Collins, Colorado, graduating with a degree in civil engineering. He worked as a civil engineer in Montana, Colorado and New Hampshire before joining the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Billings, Montana. He and Jeanne divorced, then he worked in Browning, Montana, Juneau, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. He married and later divorced Vera Duke before relocating to Phoenix.

He fell in love with the Phoenix area where he bought a home with his fiancé, Wendy Kelly. Matt had an extraordinary zest for life and enjoyed hiking in the hills of Phoenix with Wendy and taking scenic road trips to visit the folks in Montana. He loved to read maps and was a talented artist and musician. He played the guitar, banjo, harmonica and piano and loved to play for his friends and family. Matt was good natured and made many lifelong friends. He is missed tremendously.

He was preceded in death by his father, Allan Crain; grandparents; cousin, Chase Parker; and several aunts and uncles.

Matt is survived by his son, Chase (Rochelle) of Phoenix; his fiancé, Wendy Kelly; his three stepchildren, Erin, Meghan and Michael, also of Phoenix; his mother, Anna Crain; and sisters, Lisa (Mike Lame Bull), Kim (Paul Frankie Russette), all of Rocky Boy; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends from Rocky Boy.

A memorial service will be held in his honor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy on Dec. 7, 2014.