Matthew J. Tarwater, Jr.

OBITUARY: Matthew Jeffrey "Matt" Tarwater, Jr.

Matthew Jeffrey "Matt" Tarwater, Jr., 20, Topeka, died Sun., June 10, 2007, in an automobile accident north of Silver Lake. He was born Dec. 30, 1986, at Topeka, the son of Lisa Lynn (Appelhanz) and Matthew Jeffrey "Jeff" Tarwater, Sr.

Matt attended Seaman High School and Kaw Area Vo-Tech School. He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church and the Rubber Workers' Local. Matt worked at Topeka's Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Plant. He played baseball and fast pitch softball and loved basketball, hunting, fishing, and tinkering with cars.

Surviving are his mother and step-father: Lisa L. and Shawn Bolton of Topeka; his father and step-mother: Jeff and Jacque Tarwater of Silver Lake; 3 sisters: Jessica Tarwater of Topeka, Victoria Tarwater of Topeka, and Jessica Workman of Silver Lake; 2 brothers: Dylan Bolton of Topeka and Jon Workman of Silver Lake; grandparents: Rose J. Appelhanz of Topeka and John and Mary Tarwater of Mansfield, TX; step-grandmothers: Elaine Layman of Scranton and Peggy Horr of Topeka; great-grandparents: Kenneth Weddle of Topeka Etta Tarwater of Topeka, and Margaret Layman of Scranton; and countless family and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Theodore J. Appelhanz, Sr., on Jan. 25, 2007.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM, Fri., June 15, 2007, at Assumption Catholic Church,. 204 SW 8th, Topeka. Interment will be in Rochester Cemetery, Topeka. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 PM, Thursday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence, followed by the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Matt will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Thursday, at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Matthew J. Tarwater, Jr. Memorial Fund c/o Kansas Super Chief Credit Union, 3626 SW Wanamaker, Topeka, KS 66614. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.