Guest column: Gratitude overflows in time of sorrow

By Michelle Matchett
Boistfort Valley resident

Hello. My name is Michelle Matchett.

My son Nicholas Matchett drowned in the Chehalis River on May 4th.

I want to thank everyone for helping us during this time of great loss and being here for my daughter Alex and myself.

Thank you for the cards, flowers, letters and donations to help with expenses.

Thank you all for being there to hold me up.

Thank you to the Boistfort school staff and students for the letters and memories they shared to me and the celebration of his life they held for us.

Thank you Pastor Rex and Gayle from the Boistfort Community Church for reaching out to us.

Thank you to Jerred and Melissa Hunt for the most heartfelt beautiful service for Nicholas.

Thank you to Lewis County Search and Rescue, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Ronnie at CPS and all the medical personnel who tried to revive Nicky when they found him.

Thank you Joy, Faye and Tammy for going to the funeral home and helping me plan the services; I would have been completely lost.

Thank you to my entire Home Depot family, store manager James, Desi, Bob, Jim, Ron, Jerry, Emily, Zach, David, Barb, Melissa, Joy, Faye, Duane, Renae … thank you all.

Thank you to my neighbors Starla and Bruce, Cathy and Terry.

Thank you to Jeff at Cattermole Funeral Home for his knowledge and care he gave to helping with the funeral arrangements for Nicky.

Thank you to Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod and his staff for the priceless gift of the last footprints of Nicky on paper; framed with loving care hand delivered to me. Thank you for treating him as a person, thank you for telling me you would never forget him.

I cried the entire time writing this, there is no way that I can mention everyone that has touch us and helped us. It hurts so much losing my father and son in one month and words are hard to come up with.

Thank you all and God bless you and your families.

Michelle

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For background, read:

• “Breaking news: Child drowns in Chehalis River” from Friday May 4, 2012 at 7:38 p.m., here ^[3]

• “Celebration of life set for 8-year-old Boistfort student who drowned” from Monday May 7, 2012 at 8:09 p.m., here ^[4]