Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/401422
32 • NOVEMBER 2014 • WORLD FENCE NEWS S S E E C C U U R R I I T T Y Y F F E E N N C C I I N N G G INFORMATION RESOURCE WORLDFENCENEWS.COM Matt Griffi th was respected by his customers, loved by his family I am sad to report that Matt Grif- fi th, Western Region sales manager for Pexco LLC's PDS Fence Products Division, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, September 18, 2014. He was at home, surrounded by his close family members when he passed. He was a close friend and busi- ness associate, and will be sorely missed by all. A strong, but softspoken, genu- ine, hardworking and loving family man – Matt was diagnosed with kid- ney cancer in November 2013. He went through surgery and alternative treatment plans which helped prolong his quality of life. However, when kidney cancer spreads, which it did – there is cur- rently no way of stopping it. Matt is survived by his loving wife, Annette; their fi ve children, Zachary (21), Alyssa (18), Katelyn (16), Joshua (12) and Samantha (11); his parents, Jim and Ruth Griffi th; a brother, Earl Griffi th and his family; and a sister, Patti Griffi th. He was born June 16, 1970. He graduated with a BS degree in Busi- ness Management and Marketing from Central Washington University. He was a well-known, well-liked and respected 22-year veteran of the fence industry. Matt spent his fi rst 15 years em- ployed by Master Halco, the nation's largest fence distribution company, and gained both sales and operations experience. He was promoted to branch man- ager of Master Halco's Kent, Wash- ington branch in 2005. In July of 2007, he went to work for Filtrona Extrusion (now Pexco LLC) as their Western Region sales manager, based in the company's Tacoma, Washing- ton manufacturing facility. Matt's territory spanned 19 states, and included 90 customers with whom he enjoyed excellent relationships and rapport. His favorite pastime was doing anything outdoors with his family. He was an avid fi sherman and sports fan. He loved all kinds of sports, but foot- ball was his favorite. A diehard Seat- tle Seahawks fan, he was so excited when they won the Super Bowl last season. His favorite college team was the Washington State Cougars. As fate would have it, their rival team is the University of Washington Huskies – his wife Annette's college team. Matt and Annette actually add- ed into their wedding vows that they had to accept each other's teams… except, of course, when they played each other. Watching sports together was one of their favorite pasttimes. Matt's family had a cabin in Ste- hekin, Washington on the northwest end of Lake Chelan in eastern Wash- ington. He loved fi shing in the Stehekin River and hiking in the North Cascade Mountains. He had years and years worth of hiking and fi shing stories to share. His family had an apple orchard in Manson, Washington when he was growing up. Matt learned about hard work and dedication to family through working in the family business, start- ing at a young age. As Matt's friend and boss, through the years I never heard a single nega- tive comment from any of our fence customers or business associates about him. They only commended him for his softspoken, yet straight-up honest demeanor. You could bank on whatever Matt told you. The list of his fence business associates and comrades that held him in such high esteem is too long to list here, but is in fact a strong testament to the kind of character and ethics he lived by. Some of his associates voiced heartfelt feelings like these: Tim Miller, VP-Operations with Security Contractor Services, Inc., said, "I've known Matt since he was at Master Halco in Kent back in the late 1990s and have continued to work with him in various capacities until his last visit in March of this year. "While working with Matt, I re- member several great qualities: his honesty, integrity, hard work, and most of all, love of family. Whenev- er we spoke of his family, he would always light up and get a big smile on his face and give me an update. We have lost one of the good guys. He will truly be missed." Bob Cordes of Ocotillo Lumber Co. said: "Matt was an exceptional gentleman who always handled busi- ness with integrity. I will miss com- paring stories of backpacking and fi shing with our children. He was a man truly dedicated to his family." Don and Petronella Boose and their employees at ProLink Supply in Lakewood, Washington penned this touching memoriam: "We've known Matt throughout his short career; it was as if he had been a member of our team always. And how do you achieve that fi t? Well, it's a culture thing; you Matt and Annette Griffi th SECURE GATE SYSTEMS, INC. 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