Matthew Carroll Locke, aged 52, passed away August 25, 2024, in Asheville, NC.
Matthew was born October 29, 1971, in Marion, NC, to Nancy Hollifield Phillips and the late Shernian G. Locke. He had many hobbies/ interests, all starting when he was younger. His sister he would call ‘Sis’ taught him how to play baseball. Matthew was on his school’s baseball team. As he got older, he was a bat boy for the Houston Astros.
In his 20s while still in the army, he got into car shows, he would lower cars and trucks. Matthew and his company would work on the cars he would show. After the army, he went even deeper into this hobby; he had two cars win awards, one being featured in a magazine. Matthew had an extensive collection of army action figures. They were accompanied by a convoy of tanks, hum Vs, and aircrafts. He was very protective of these and instilled in his daughter ‘’don’t touch’’ from a young age.
He loved Christmas, specifically putting up his Christmas village. When it first started, he only had a gas station, bank, bakery, house, barn, hotel and meet Santa gazebo. Matthew continues to grow this village after moving to Andrews, NC. The family is determined to keep this tradition alive and grow the village even bigger just for him.
Matthew had a creative spirit. He would make things like fairy houses. His sister, Karen, still has 3 of these masterpieces. His daughter treasures hers; he made it to look like a tangled tower. Matthew even made one that resembled a doll house, making furniture for it also.
Matthew was picky about his food. He loved anything chocolate, especially chocolate ice cream. Matthew loved pepperoni pizza and hated cottage cheese in his lasagna. No one could compete with his mom’s biscuits and gravy or potato soup. If he had spaghetti and meatballs you could be assured that he was sharing with his dog peanut.
He was a documentary buff focusing on army documentaries and anything about the Vietnam War. If you were watching an army movie you could be garneted that he would criticize the uniforms or how someone was ranked. At night he would always watch Jeopardy. Always answer questions even the contestants didn’t know.
He was an avid Braves fan and would watch them every summer. He even attended many of their games. He would make jokes about ‘there goes the season’ anytime his team was doing poorly, getting annoyed with certain pitchers as he did so.
In addition to his father, Matthew was preceded in passing by his maternal grandparents, Glen Hollifield and Luria Hollifield; and paternal grandparents, George Locke and Ona Locke.
He is survived by his daughter, Abigail Larissa Locke of the home; sisters, Karen (Ray) Austin of Frisco, NC, DeAnna Locke of Ocracoke, NC, and Sarah (Stan) Hammet of Marion, NC; additional loved ones, Rosie and Sammy; and his precious rescue dog, Peanut, the family isn’t sure who rescued whom.
Matthew was the strongest, kindest man you would ever meet. Wherever he went a chorus of laughter would follow. He will be forever missed by everyone who knew him.
Asheville Mortuary Services is honored to serve the Locke family.
See the original obituary HERE.