Matthew Scott Kirton, 25

Sgt. Matthew Scott Kirton, 25, of Clarksville, Tennessee, passed away suddenly on Dec. 31, 2015, in Clarksville as a result of a motorcycle accident.

Matthew was born on Oct. 23, 1990, in Santa Ana, California, the son of Jeannie (Virginia) Butler and William Butler of Polson. He attended elementary, middle and high school in Murrieta, California.

Matthew was married to Shelby Fenger in 2012 in Las Vegas. He spent 3.5 years in defense of our country in the military. Matthew had just been promoted to sergeant at Fort Campbell with the 160th Night Stalkers. He served a tour in Afghanistan, received 10 medals, and conquered Airborne and SERE school. He worked as a mechanic on helicopters and was an excelled sharpshooter. Matthew attended several training schools within the Army and excelled at each with a tremendous amount of achievement to be proud of during his time in the military.

Anyone that knew Matthew knew his passion and love for motorcycles and dirt bikes was huge. He has been an avid rider since around 10 years of age. He also had been professionally trained to race dirt bikes. He recently became a nationally certified ATV and off-road course instructor in Clarksville. He loved and enjoyed working on mechanics of autos and bikes. He had enjoyed playing the guitar since his early teens up to recently. He really loved and enjoyed firearms and shooting. His other passion was working out at the local gym, which is where you would find him if not once, but twice a day at times! When he was very young, he and his brother John trained in the art of taekwondo for a couple of years. He also liked collecting watches and wearing them.

Matthew had a heart for dogs and a huge love for his Max, Sadie and Bella. Those were his babies and he loved them dearly.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Opal and John Kirton; great-grandmother, Louisa Lovering; and grandmother, Ruth Ruggles.

In addition to his loving parents “who miss you so very much and love you forever,” he will be missed by his wife Shelby Kirton of Clarksville — “I will love you always and can’t wait ’til we meet again”; adoring siblings, brothers John Michael Kirton and Brett Butler; and sisters Wendy Caporale, Danielle Lopez, Erika Seirup and Breana Sanders; grandmother, Delia Ruiz; uncles, and lots of nieces and nephews and cousins; and in-laws, James and Brenda Fenger, who love him and will miss him. A celebration of life, visitation and video presentation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the chapel of Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.