RALEIGH – Matthew Joshua Andrews, 35, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 26, 2023.

Matthew was born in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire on February 20, 1988. His early life and childhood was spent in a small New Hampshire town, where he enjoyed nature trails, the mountains and days at the beach, both in NH and Cape Cod. In his youth and high school years Matt enjoyed and excelled in the competitive sports of soccer, swim and martial arts. Matthew also enjoyed simpler activities such as skateboarding and card collecting, which he pursued into his adult years. Additionally, Matt, always looking for a challenge, tried his hand at club Rugby and was even a registered MMA fighter, with several bouts to his name. Matt seemed to want to do it all and sample a little bit of all of life’s adventures.

After a successful high school career, Matt went on to university in Virginia, where he eventually enlisted in the armed forces. During his basic training at Fort Campbell, Matthew was identified for special forces training and then became a Green Beret Special Forces soldier. Matthew served his country for 9 years with multiple deployments and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant/Senior Communications Sergeant of Special Forces, Operation Detachment – Alpha 5211, and was, as well, fluent in Russian. Matthew completed his degree at Norwich University and went on to obtain his Master Degree in Business at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in May of 2022. Matthew just recently was attending classes at Central Carolina Community College for Motorcycle Mechanics as he was an avid fan of motorcycles and owned several.

If you knew Matt, you knew he enjoyed a favorite establishment, The Davie, and was always met by a group of friends whenever he was there. Some of his favorite pastimes Included heavy metal music and attending shows with friends, mastering the barbeque grill, playing guitar and travelling everywhere and anywhere.

Matthew never met a stranger. One of his many strengths lay in listening and conversing on any subject with just about anyone. Matthew had friends in every corner of the world, and yet due to a simple humbleness, was not aware of just how loved he really was.

Matt’s work ethic was beyond measure; he rarely sat still and found something to do with every minute of the day. Perhaps realizing how precious time really is. Matt was also a very successful real estate investor.

Adventure sat on Matthew’s shoulder and led him to many of his life’s experiences, good/bad, happy/sad. Matthew was incredibly loved and will be incredibly missed. “The pain of missing you is a beautiful reminder of the joy of loving you”.

Matthew was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Jennie Andrews; and his paternal great-aunt, Grace Parisi.

He is survived by his parents, Mark and Michele Andrews; brother, Michael Andrews and his wife, Erin, and their children, Madeline and Margot; his sister, Morgan Palmer and her husband, Riley, and their son, Oliver; as well as Kailey Greeson; maternal grandmother, Patricia Halloran; aunts, Karen Kelly and her husband, Jack, Clare Erskine and her husband, Marc, and Anne Marie Andrews; uncles, Mark Halloran and his wife, Martee, and Paul Andrews and his wife, Maureen; along with a host of cousins, extended family, and friends.

The family will hold a memorial service at 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 2, 2023, in the Chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604. Matthew will be laid to rest alongside his military brothers and sisters during an inurnment ceremony at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com