Matthew Clair Richner

Matthew Clair Richner beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed away on Saturday May 11^th, 2024, at Rogue Regional Medical Center after an unexpected cardiac arrest at the age of 63. Family and friends are heartbroken. Matt was loved by so many and had a personality bigger than life itself.

Matt was born May 10^th 1961, in Grants Pass Oregon to Clair and Judy Richner. He graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1979. From an early age he worked in the family feed business, Richner Hay Sales and started driving hay trucks at the age of 16. He then went on to work on dairy farms, including several years on Delmer Brink’s, Jack Boersma’s, and Larry Richner’s dairy farms. He worked in construction in both California and Oregon. He worked for many years at both Double R Products and Ben Wamp Logging and in 2009 he started his own trucking business. Matt absolutely loved being in the woods, hauling logs, and all of his friends and family he helped get started in the logging business.

Matt enjoyed big gatherings with family and friends. He was often asked to cook at weddings and other large events. He loved elk hunting in Eastern Oregon and was excited to go every year for over the past 30 years. He loved to raise his own beef, plant flowers (especially roses), golfing with friends, as well as fishing and camping with family. His pride and joy was his massive garden that he grew every year. He loved giving most of it away and family and friends especially waited for the first ears of corn.

In 1987, he married Tonya Huddleston in Grants Pass, Oregon. Their children include Tiffany (Chris) Havens, Dixie (Ryan) Rhodes, Lacey (Craig) McCraken, and Bryan (Nicole) Richner. He had six grandchildren: Rodney (20), Lilly (18), Allie (16), Jase (11), Kaizley (8) and Emma (6) all of Grants Pass, Oregon. He also leaves behind his mother Judy Richner; sisters: Lisa Richner of Redmond Oregon, Darlene Byrd of Grants Pass, Janice Filburn of Parkville, Missouri; and brother Martin Richner of Grants Pass, Oregon. He is preceded in death by his father Clair Richner and sisters: Alleia “Sis” Collins and Rita Myran.

A Memorial Log Truck Rally will be held on June 22^nd (time to be announced) with a Celebration of life and BBQ dinner to follow at 2pm at 706 Dutcher Creek Rd, Grants Pass. All who knew and loved Matt are welcome to attend. If you are interested in driving in the rally please contact Craig or Lacey McCraken (Craig 541-660-2120 Lacey 541-659-8344).