DILLEY, MATT

Matthew R. Dilley 1956 - 2020 Matt Dilley was born in Shenandoah, Iowa on December 18, 1956, to Ermal "Buck" Dilley and Elizabeth "Betty" Maxine Toliver Dilley, and died in California on June 8, 2020, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He graduated from Shenandoah High School in the class of 1975. After high school, he left home out of his love for adventure; he called many different parts of the country home over his lifetime, including Colorado, Arizona and California. He spent several years of his life traveling the open road as a semi truck driver. He loved attending sporting events and rock concerts. His most notable were the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, where his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers won the National Championship. He attended this game with his mom, Betty, and son, Jake. His favorite concert was seeing The Rolling Stones at the Rose Bowl. He loved the pets he owned over the years, his cats (Mr. Bill and Wheezie), his dogs (Stash, Ollie and Ladda). Matt is remembered as a man that would help a friend in their greatest time of need. He took in a friend who was diagnosed with HIV in the early 90s. This was at a time when society shunned like individuals, but Matt never turned his back on a friend. Similarly, when another friend was being released from prison, Matt welcomed the man into his home and got him a job to get on his feet. The impact he had on these two individuals is immeasurable. Matt's legacy lives on in those he impacted in his lifetime. His influence on those he called family will never be forgotten or taken for granted. Matt treated Jake as his son. The two spent many summers together in Arizona and Matt took Jake in during his sophomore year in high school. They both shared a love of loud music, fast cars, and semis. May we all be so lucky to be remembered this way. He was preceded in death by his parents and his longtime companion Simone Strickland. Matt is survived by his son, Jacob Benedict and family of Norman, Oklahoma, and close friends Delilah Diaz and Angela Gaw of Los Angeles, California that provided him loving and compassionate care at the end of his life. In lieu of flowers or donations, instead find someone that needs a friend and show them the love that Matt so often gave to others.