Gary Matthew 'Matty Cat' 'Dj Foodstamps' Thomas

Gary Matthew “Matt” Thomas was born on July 8, 1992 in Dayton, Ohio. Matt was a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University where he earned his B.S. in Education, and was a 2010 graduate of Lincoln High School in Gahanna, Ohio. Matt was a free-spirit who touched the lives of numerous people near and far. He recently went to Hawaii to pursue his dream of teaching youth, and eventually wanted to obtain his Master’s Degree in Special Education. In addition to teaching, Matt thoroughly enjoyed music and was known for deejaying at parties under the name DJ Food Stamps. While a student at Bowling Green, he volunteered at Food for Thought and homeless shelters in the Toledo area. Matt was also the great-great grandson of Lonnie Carmon, the first Black aviator of Columbus, Ohio. As a child, Matt enjoyed vacation bible school while visiting his grandmother in Wooster, Ohio. He was an avid reader, loved history and religious studies, and especially enjoyed long boarding and skateboarding, art, performing in his high school marching band, playing football, and being an all-around friend. Matt was a member of New Birth Christian Ministries in Columbus, Ohio. On Thursday, August 25, 2016, Matt passed away while in Honolulu, Hawaii. Matt was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Nelson Walton. He is survived by his parents, Beverly A. Thomas, Gary D. (Allison) Thomas, and Chandra (Darryl) Marks; brothers, David Alexander Thomas, Marcus Harris and Michael Banks; grandparents, Frank Sr. and Sadie White, Mary McCoy, Yvette Carmon Davis, and Hannibal Anthony Davis, II (Karen); uncles, Donald (Michaele) Reynolds, Frank White, Jr. (Ryann), Stephen L. (Traci) Thomas, Joe McCoy, Richard Anthony (Danielle) Davis, and Hannibal Anthony Davis, III (Fiona); and a host of beloved great aunts, great uncles, cousins, other relatives, and very special friends. En lieu of flowers, friends may make contributions in Matt’s memory to Food for Thought, 316 Adams St., 2nd Floor, Toledo, Ohio 43604; or, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245, Worthington, Ohio 43085-2238.