Matthew Frias

SIKESTON — Matthew Joseph Frias, age 39, of Sikeston died Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, near Hayti, Missouri.

He was born June 24, 1982, at Bryan, Texas, to Gilbert Roland Frias and Rebecca Lynn Chappell Frias. He was a 2001 graduate of Sikeston High School and had lived in Sikeston most of his life.

Matt called his self a “worldly traveler” as he was a traveling certified welder before taking his most recent position as a professor at Arkansas Northeastern College, where he was awarded Teacher of The Year in 2020.

Matt enjoyed life to the fullest. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hot rods, and motorcycles. Most recently, Matt took part in a support group the “Cape Dog Pack” motorcycle club.

Loving survivors include: his parents, Roland Frias and Becky Frias; sister, Lindsay Gilliland; brother-in-law, Billy Gilliland; nephew, Beau Gilliland; and niece, Layla Gilliland; along with his girlfriend, Savanna Whitacre, and her son, Ozzy.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Sikeston.  

Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery near Sikeston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be: DJ Sanders, Johnathan Lipsy, George Parr, Kyle Parr, Harold Palmer, Darrell Porter, Charles Parr, Cal Sutton and Travis Sutton.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: David Johnson, Nathan Labryuere, Billy Gilliland, Eric Annesser, Justin Vaughan, Jeff McKinley and Sam Wise.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.