Matthew R. Huffman

Matthew Robert Huffman, 67, passed from this life peacefully, surrounded by his entire family on Friday, June 16, 2023. He finished his battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University. He was born in Greenville, Ohio on April 7, 1956 to R. Dean and Phyllis K. (Elliott) Huffman. He attended high school at West Jefferson High School, Bucyrus High School, and graduated from Cory-Rawson High School in 1975, where he played football, basketball, and ran track. He was an All-Ohio athlete in football his senior year and played in The Big 33 Ohio-Pennsylvania All Star game in 1975. He then attended Muskingum College where he was All-OAC for football in ’77 & ‘78, became a member of the MACE Club and graduated in 1979, earning a degree in Elementary Education.

He began his teaching career at Mt. Sterling Elementary in 1979 and coached football at Madison Plains High School. He remained there for four years before assuming a Memorial Middle School teaching position in West Jefferson, Ohio, where he taught for 31 years until his retirement in 2014. At West Jefferson, he coached football for the majority of his career and remained an avid Roughrider football fan, attending almost every game with his good friend Skeeter Nelson after his retirement. In addition, he also coached basketball and baseball and served as the Middle School Athletic Director for several years. While teaching at West Jeff, he earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Wright State University in 2004.

During retirement, he enjoyed playing rounds of golf across Ohio with his brother, Jeff, and good friend Greg McPherson. Matt worked in catering for the suites in Nationwide Arena for Delaware North, as well as many weddings and celebrations at the Columbus Zoo. As an active member of Sts. Simon and Jude Parish, he served the church as a choir member, Extraordinary Minister of The Holy Eucharist, usher, and was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus in the parish. He particularly enjoyed the fellowship of the “Morning Mass group” in his retirement years where his faith and friendships deepened.  

Matt loved his family and was the best husband, father, and Pap Pap.  He loved traveling with Val, his wife of 43 years, supporting their children and grandchildren, and spending time with all of them. He was their biggest fan, attending every football game, gymnastics meet, and event he could. Having the family together for holidays, birthdays and vacations to the beach were his favorite and most memorable times. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Phyllis (Elliott) Huffman, parents-in-law Donald and Cynthia (Chenos) Brake, and brothers-in-law Donnie Brake, Tony Bruno, and Tim Grice. He is survived by his wife Valerie, sons Adam (Katie) Huffman, Ian Huffman, daughter Hilary (Jake) Watts, and son Seth Huffman, grandchildren Addie, Ellie, Matthew, Sarah, Mia and Macen, as well as siblings Jeff (Gayle) Huffman, Carol Grice, and Rita Huffman, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends from all over. 

The family would like to give a special thank-you to the staff and care team at The James for their tremendous support, knowledge, and compassion during the past few weeks. 

Visitation and Funeral Mass will both be held at SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson, Ohio 43162

Visitation will be held on THURSDAY, June 22, 2023 from 4:00pm-8:00pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00am. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2023 with Father Dwayne McNew, Celebrant.  Burial will follow the Mass at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Jefferson. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that a contribution be made to an organization below:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: https://givenow.lls.org/give/342076/#!/donation/checkout

or by check: LLS-Central Ohio, P.O. Box 22324, New York, NY 10087

OR:

Knights of Columbus, Father Sheldon Kelly Council #11224

via check: Attn: Council #11224, 9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson, OH 43162.

The Rader-McDonald-Tidd Funeral Home, 1355 W. Main St., West Jefferson, OH 43162 (614)-879-9222, is assisting the family.  Please visit: www.radermcdonaldtiddfuneralhome.com to share your favorite memories and to send your condolences to the Huffman Family.