Matthew Kurt Harries

Matthew Kurt Harries

Age 16, of Plymouth, passed away September 11th, 2020.

Matthew was a kind, funny soul who's laugh and smile lit up a room. He loved serving others, playing sports (particularly cross-country), wake surfing, and spending time with his friends and family. Matthew was a giver through and through and always put others before himself. He will be deeply missed by family, friends and all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by grandfathers, Duane Harries and Gary Krogman; and uncle, Andre Moldan.

Matthew is survived by parents, Julie and Kurt Harries; siblings, Michael (Kristen) Harries, Mark (Ali) Harries, Marie Harries; grandparents, Gerald and Lucy Moldan, Marilyn Krogman, and dozens of loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation Tuesday, September 15 ^th , 2020 from 4:00-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Wayzata, MN 55391. To attend the visitation, please reserve a time slot at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040448A8AD28A5FC1-matthew . Matthew lived in sweatpants and sweatshirts, so for the visitation please wear comfortable clothes, your favorite sports gear or anything you feel would honor him.

Mass of Christian Burial, Wednesday, September 16 ^th , 2020 at 11:00 AM with a visitation prior to service from 9:00-11:00 AM at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Wayzata, MN 55391. To attend the service, please reserve at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040448A8AD28A5FC1-matthew1 . The service is being held on Matthew’s birthday, so let’s celebrate his life. In addition to indoor seating, the funeral will be live-streamed under tents in the parking lot of Holy Name following social distance guidelines.

Following the interment, there will be a picnic in honor of Matthew. If you would like to attend the picnic, please RSVP at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040448A8AD28A5FC1-matthew2 . Please bring a lawn chair or a blanket for seating as this will be outside.

Memorials preferred to the Harries Family, which will be used for Matthew's favorite ministry, Homes of Hope.

Below is the eulogy that was written by the Harries family:

My name is Michael, Matthew’s oldest brother. These words were written as a family, together, over the last few days and I present them on behalf of all of us.

That smile… Matthew had a smile that made everyone feel comfortable. A smile that made you know he cared about you. A smile that accompanied his ridiculous dance moves, or when he knew he made the perfect playlist change that would get the crowd going. That smile also signaled how much Matthew truly sought to be kind to everyone. After looking at pictures over the last few days it brings us great refuge knowing that until the very end, he never lost that smile .

As soon as Michael, Mark, Marie and Matthew could speak, Julie had four rules for her children:

Be kind, be kind, be kind… and if you want water, bring water. Day after day, for every one of his beautiful 16 years, Matthew scored a “perfect” 75% on Julie’s test. He never brought his own water, but man, he was ALWAYS kind. We are all here today because we all were, and will forever continue to be, a recipient of Matthew’s smile and kindness.

Some of you knew Matthew as a best friend. Others knew him as a classmate, a coworker, a teammate of cross country, hockey, baseball, basketball, soccer or Harries Field whiffle ball. Some may have only spoken to him a few times in passing or just know him as that nice, good looking guy with one awesome smile. He was an incredible grandson, nephew, cousin and uncle to his puppy nephew Ralphie. And to us, he was, and will forever remain, the most caring, compassionate, beloved son and brother we could have ever asked for.

Phillipians 4, verses 4-7 say, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our request to Christ today, and to all of you, our family, is to help us rejoice in the Lord for the joy Matthew brought us, and that his memory will continue to bring.

Over the last few days, we’ve been reflecting and reminiscing about Matthew and all of the cherished memories we have with him. We know many of you have done so as well. We’d like to share a few of our favorites with you, as well as some you’ve shared with us:

Julie knew Matthew was special from the beginning. He loved her so much that even after a failed induction, he decided to stay in her stomach for a full two weeks past his due date before being forced to enter the world at 10lbs 4oz.

When Matthew was about 4, we were on a boat and the pool toys began to blow away. Very worried, Matthew started yelling, “It’s winding away! It’s winding away.” To try to console hm, Julie said, “It’s OK Matthew, we can buy a new one,” He quickly responded, the wheels in his mind already turning… “But, Mom… what if it’s not on sale?” Matthew’s business savviness was off the charts from a young age… he was a master deal finder and negotiator who was always looking for ways to make or save a buck.

Matthew was also a protector, particularly of his big sister Marie. And he also let Marie protect him back. They were a dynamic duo with an inseparable bond. Marie and Matthew shared a room for a while growing up, talking all night, and getting into all sorts of shenanigans. Marie remembers building one particular fort propped up only by a box fan blowing air upward – think the old metrodome, without snow falling through. Fortunately for them, the fort stayed standing, allowing them to talk for hours that night. As excited as Matthew was to eventually get his own room when Michael moved to college, he often returned to Marie’s room to sleep at the end of her bed.

Matthew was good at just about everything he did. His brothers, Michael and Mark, admittedly remember the way Matthew crushed them at golf, darts, running, ping pong, height, good looks, and just about everything in between. However, he would often let them win initially, setting the stage for the comment: “Let’s put some money on this to make it fun.” He never failed to take our money once it was on the line.

We remember how he always put his older brothers in their rightful place, and we know he will never stop doing so from heaven. Michael knew he could no longer finish a run first, so Michael would often stop a run early, or flat out cheat to finish ahead of Matthew. Whenever Michael or Mark would get big heads, he was always there to say, “Nice subtle flex, bro.” We also remember all the mischief he created, and the way he listened extra acutely to Mark talking about his own shenanigans, at the ready to not just repeat them, but perfect their execution.

Matthew knew how to bring color to life. We all know he had a great wardrobe, filled with pinks, purples, blues and reds. He also made sure Holidays were done right. For instance, last Christmas, Matthew went over to Mark and Ali‘s house and noticed their house had no lights. Walking inside, he asked, “Can I PLEASE put Christmas lights on your house? You’ll have the most festive house in the neighborhood when I’m done.” He spent that entire Saturday, making multiple trips to Target, hanging those lights. As hard as we’ll try, we will never be able to get those lights as immaculately straight and precise as Matthew did. Kurt quickly enlisted him to do their home as well.

We also remember Matthew as grillmaster with the Dad-bod… as someone who apparently was always willing to dance with his friends, but who required his cousins to drag him to the dance floor at family weddings.

We remember when he talked Kurt into building an ice rink in the back yard. And for anyone who knows Kurt, his willingness to build that rink, knowing full well it was a very real flood risk into our basement just shows how much of a skilled-persuader Matthew was. He would always get Julie with the line, “Mommy who loves me so much, can I please…”

We remember Matthew’s servant heart, and the way he treated everyone with respect. The way he always celebrated his teammates even when he was unhappy with his own result. The times he went out of his way to include others and help them know they belonged.

We remember him running around Mexico with children on his back, building homes for them and their families. We remember the way he lovingly looked at those children with compassion, kindness and an empathy that knew no bounds. He just wanted them to Be. Happy.

Matthew felt everyone’s pain and would do everything he could to alleviate it. It tore him up knowing someone was being picked on or taken advantage of. He lived his life to make all of us happy.

Last year, Julie remembers sitting with Matthew in the doctor’s office as he awaited the imaging results of the leg injury that forever hampered his running career. As they waited, an elderly woman walked past, in obvious distress, but alone. Julie remembers her eyes connecting with Matthew’s, no words were needed as they shared the pain they both felt for this woman. Holding Julie’s eyes, Matthew reached over, took her hand and said, “Mom, you will never have to worry about being alone. I will always be here for you.”

We will never know the pain that Matthew endured. But, we do know this:

The face of mental illness isn’t always what we think it is. It does not discriminate. We know Matthew fought depression for over two years. And when we say he fought… He. Really. Fought. He took medicine and saw a therapist. He talked to his family. He knew he needed help. Yet, despite his incredible strength and vulnerability, he lost the battle with his depression. As a family, we hope to do whatever we can to ensure other lives are not lost to this debilitating disease. If you have or are experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental illness, please know you can reach out to anyone in our family at any time. You are not alone, and you never will be.

Our family wants to believe that if Matthew lived in a society where we all, especially males, were more open, honest and vulnerable about our emotions, that maybe he would have reached out even more than he did. We also believe that in such a world, he would be celebrating his 17 ^th birthday today here with us today instead of in heaven.

Although as we are aware, I’m sure he is having one rowdy birthday party with Jesus in heaven today, complete with golfing, grilling, pranking, wake surfing, dancing, lots of laughing, and one, big smile.

We know Matthew had incredible faith. He loved Jesus dearly. As he approached the finish line of his cross-country race last week, the cross necklace he just received from his confirmation bounced on his chest. We know that Christ is currently holding Matthew tight as he watches us today with that incredible smile glued to his face. And we know we will see him again.

First Corinthians chapter 13, verses 4 through 7 say: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Our family wants you all to know that Matthew truly and deeply loved you. We also want you all to know how much joy and peace it brings us to know that you truly, and deeply, loved him . (pause)

As we go forward, please continue to carry gratitude with us for Matthew’s life and the memories he continues to provide. Never stop joining us in telling stories, laughing, crying, holding each other, saying his name, and being thankful.

Thank you for loving our Matthew. Just as Matthew truly made everyone feel like family, we want you all to know that we consider you family. We love you and cannot wait to continue hearing about the ways Matthew made you smile.