Matthew Clonts

Matthew Joseph Clonts, 51, Thatcher, passed away on Monday, June 17, 2013, after a courageous battle with colon cancer at his home with his loving family surrounding his bedside. He was born on February 2, 1962 at the Williams Field Air force Base, to Darold Wendle Clonts and Marilyn Freeman Clonts. He married the love of his life Niki Griffin on March 17, 1984 in the Mesa LDS Temple. Matt was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission for the LDS church in the Milan Italy Mission which sparked his passion for the country, food, culture, and people of Italy. Matt was an accountant by profession and received his bachelor degree in accounting from ASU and worked in the field of accounting and project management for many years. He loved snow skiing, family vacations to Disneyland, Italy, speaking Italian, and especially loved his Diet Coke, (LOL!). He lived with his family in Verona Italy from 2005-2007. He was an awesome "Papi". He loved being a father to his eight children; 5 of which were adopted from Thailand, Honduras, and Guatemala. He is survived by his wife Niki, of Thatcher; his children, Thomas, Brittani (Joshua) Gonzalez, Logan, Bethany, Helen, Gabriel, Gabriela, and Rodrigo; his mother, Marilyn Clonts, of Central; Father and Mother-in-laws, Ernest and Marjorie Griffin of Thatcher; brothers, Douglas, Wayne (Jill) of Gilbert, Benjamin (Amy) of Avondale, Daniel (Dana) of Show Low, Jared (Olya) of Mary Esther, FL, and Samuel Clonts of Show Low. He was preceded in death by his father, Darold Clonts. Visitation will be on Friday, June 28, 2013 from 7-9 p.m. at the Thatcher LDS Stake Center, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Funeral will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Thatcher LDS Stake Center, with Bishop Jonathan Sanders officiating. Interment will be in the Central Cemetery. The Clonts family would like to thank the people of Freeport McMoran, the amazing Gila Valley community, and all of their family and friends for the love and support they gave to Matt and his family over the past two years. Family suggests donation be made to The Wunder Project at www.thewunderproject.org or www.wunderglofoundation.org