Matthew Evan Alderson

Matthew Evan Alderson, known to all as Matt, passed away on July 4, 2026, in Prescott, Arizona, following a motorcycle accident. He was 73 years old, born on October 1, 1952, in Tilden, Nebraska, to Jack and Helen Childers Alderson, a farming family. Matt carried the values of his midwestern upbringing throughout his entire life, including a commitment to honesty, a straightforward approach to adversity, and a dry sense of humor. The family moved from the farm to Tucson in 1955, winding up in Tempe in 1961. Mill Avenue ended at Southern Avenue and farms covered the valley. Matt explored all areas of Tempe on a bicycle and most of Arizona as a Boy Scout, spending summers at Tempe Beach and delivering newspapers in the growing subdivisions. By graduation from Tempe High School in 1970, the farms were gone and canals fenced off from would-be swimmers. It had been a unique time between the remnants of territorial Arizona and the metropolis that is now the Valley of the Sun. Matt earned an associate degree in 1975 and built a distinguished career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, pioneering GIS cartography. Matt was a lifelong hunter and passionate conservation advocate who understood that loving the land meant taking responsibility for its future. His knowledge of Arizona's deserts and mountains found another outlet in his freehand wildlife drawings, which captured the beauty of the landscapes he treasured. Matt's childhood love of the outdoors never left him. Despite losing a lower leg in an accident as a young man, he covered countless rugged miles across Arizona's backcountry and enjoyed 50 years of motorcycling, including many cross-country tours. He held leadership roles in Kiwanis Sun City-Agua Fria and later Prescott. Friday July 3 he was handing out ice cream at the Kiwanis Kiddie Parade. He spent the last two days of his life doing two things that meant the world to him; serving with the Kiwanis Club of Prescott and enjoying the open road on his Harley. When he wasn't on the trail, on two wheels, or on a Kiwanis activity, Matt could be found traveling with his wife, Althea, the great companion and love of his life. Upon retirement Matt decided to follow an interest he had never pursued – singing. He shared his love of music as a singer in his church choir and with the Prescott Chorale, where his voice was a welcome and familiar presence. Matt is survived by his beloved wife, Althea, his brother, Kurt (Linda), niece Denon, niece Chevon (Jarad), their son Halston, niece Michele (Kip), her daughter Annie and a host of cousins. Family that preceded him in death include parents Jack and Helen, sisters Christine and Ann, brother Tony and nephew Eddie. He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to share a road, a song, a hunt, or a good story with him. Services are set for Saturday, July 25, at 11 a.m. at Prescott United Methodist Church 505 W Gurley. Contributions to Prescott Kiwanis, Prescott Chorale, or the above church in Matt’s memory would honor him and his family.

Matthew Evan Alderson

October 1, 1952 - July 4, 2026