April 13, 1992 – August 8, 2025
Matthew Havner
Matthew’s family are deeply saddened to announce his unexpected passing on August 8, 2025.
Matthew was born to J Marvin Havner and Joanna Marie Driggers on April 13, 1992, in Seattle, Washington. He was a sweet, bright, and loving child, and a delight to his family. Matthew was overjoyed to welcome his baby sister, Megan, on April 24, 1994. They became a fun, silly, mischievous pair, as well as the very best of friends.
Matthew grew up in the Ballard Neighborhood of Seattle, graduating from Ballard High School in 2010. He joined the Ballard High School Maritime Academy and was active in the Ballard Highschool Drama Department, as a sound and lighting technician. After graduation, Matthew continued his education at Seattle Maritime Academy, graduating in 2013. He began his maritime career first as a deckhand then as an engineer with Westar Marine Services, working on tugboats up and down the Pacific coast, including Alaska. Matthew took his knowledge of marine diesel engines to Northern Lights as a test technician, where his analytical problem-solving skills excelled. These same skills served him well at Boeing, and various other companies, working on everything from airplanes to communications satellites. Matthew pursued his aptitude for engineering and innovation in his personal life; working on several inventions, some of which he patented.
Matthew loved the outdoors and, while in high school, joined Venture Crew (part of The Boys Scouts of America). He enjoyed hiking, camping, snowboarding, sailing, and kayaking, becoming a skilled outdoorsman. His love and reverence for nature fed his desire to connect with the world around him. Matthew became an avid scholar of spirituality, studying and practicing diverse religious traditions, in pursuit of a deeper understanding of life.
Matthew’s bright spirit, compassion, intelligence, curiosity, and humor drew many people to him. He gathered an incredible group of loyal and devoted friends over his lifetime. We are blessed to have both loved him and been loved by him in his brief 33 years. He will be missed immensely.
Matthew is survived by his mother Joanna Driggers and her partner, Patrick Gaughan, his father J Havner and his wife, Michelle Collyer, his siblings Megan Havner, Chloe Collyer, and Jos Gaughan, his grandparents D. Neil and Judy Ann Driggers, his grandparents Roger and Arvada Scott, and his loving extended family.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.