Donald Matthew Hall

The family of Donald Matthew Hall is greatly saddened to announce his passing on May 30, at the age of 41.

Matt was an accomplished Drafting Designer for the U.S. Department of Energy at Oak Ridge for over 15 years. He graduated from Cleveland State Community College with a degree in AutoCAD design in 2006, and was a graduate of Gateway Christian School in 2002.

He resided in Lenoir City and later Knoxville with his former wife Heather Allen, where they raised their three children Haley, Luke, and Ryker. Matt enjoyed a quiet life with his family, and looked forward to trips to the beach, paintball, gaming with friends, and spending time on his mom's family farm in Athens. Matt was a talented architect who designed and helped build a custom log cabin on the family farm. His love for the outdoors and for animals will be fondly remembered. He never met a snake or spider that he couldn't catch to inspect and show those around him. His love of coordinating epic fireworks displays was a family favorite each Fourth of July.

Matt's love for animals saw his house always full of cats and dogs, often rescued, and always given a loving forever home. He was always ready to help his friends and family, offer a listening ear, and share a funny story with a twinkle in his eye. He possessed a deep wealth of practical knowledge, and a soft-spoken nature and humility that was instantly endearing to everyone he met. While he travelled to Europe, the Caribbean, and other international destinations, he was admittedly always a homebody, with an appreciation for the simple things in life.

In his school years, Matt was a promising baseball player, accomplished pianist, and adventure-seeker-attending camps where he would whitewater raft, cave, rock climb, cliff dive and more. He was raised in a faith-filled home, actively involved in the Christian Church and baptized by his father at the age of 12.

Matt enjoyed floating the Hiwassee River each summer, and enjoying state parks and lakes in the warm summer months. He always took pride in his yard, providing beautiful play spaces for his kids, and could often be found grilling up burgers and hotdogs for friends and family at birthday parties.

Above all, Matt excelled in his role as father, his love for his children evident in every area of his life. He instilled his kindness, love of animals and nature, and sense of humor into each of them.

He's preceded in death by his father Donald C. Hall Jr, his grandfather Donald C. Hall Sr, grandmother Sara Yost Hall, grandmother Jean Keesee Reynolds, and his grandfather Robert Keesee.

He is survived by his his three children Haley Elizabeth Hall 13, Luke Ryland Hall 9, and Ryker Curtis Hall 7, his mother Ruth Hall Cummings and her husband Roger Cummings, sisters Kimberly (Timothy) Passmore, and Sara (Stephen) Bulkley, and a number of beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Sunday, June 8th at Companion Funeral Home in Athens, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Renew Clinic in Knoxville, TN.

Family and friends are invited to share memories or offer condolences by visiting his online guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral & Cremation Service of Athens, TN, and the Cody family are honored to serve the Hall family during this time.