Matthew Lee Applegate

Matthew Lee Applegate departed this earth for his Heavenly home on January 3, 2025. He was 42 years old. When he got to Heaven, he was running full speed into the arms of his Papa Ted, Papa Gene, Grandma Carolyn, and Aunt Bubba where a joyous and undoubtedly loud reunion took place with everyone talking at once about OU/OSU football, the Dallas Cowboys, politics, hunting, Lonesome Dove, and WWII history.

Matt made Teddy a dad and Jeanne a mom on April 19, 1982. He loved his brother very much and was delighted when Kyle married Christina and he became Munkle Matt to Tristan, Brad, and Frankie. Matt would babysit them often as toddlers, not afraid of a dirty diaper if there was a water hose handy. As they got older, he would provide “wisdom” that was often questionable, but always entertaining or thought provoking. 

Matt graduated from Inola High School in 2000 to a standing ovation, having completed his junior and senior year at the same time so he could graduate with his class. He was a best man or groomsman many times over the years for family and friends.

Matt learned from the best how to build or repair things. He was glued to his Daddy or Papa Ted fixing things around the house, chopping wood, repairing tractors or fences, or feeding/working cattle. Matt taught the young members of family and friends how to operate tractors, build burn piles, burn off the land, hook up to a trailer, shoot rifles, bleach deer heads, or sell something on Facebook. As Hank Jr. said, country boys can survive, and Matt knew all the tricks.

Matt had the biggest personality and while it was gone for a while after his accident in 1998, thankfully it came back with a vengeance. He lived his life the way he wanted and did not let what he couldn’t do, stop him from doing what he could do. He would often wait too long to ask others for help because he didn’t want to bother anyone. Matt never, ever complained or felt sorry for himself; he never wanted anyone else to feel sorry for him. He lived life with what he was given, and then some. 

Matt was blessed with so many friends who never saw his limitations and treated him exactly like they would have if he had never been paralyzed. His family wants them to know they were blessings to Matt and his family for all of the 26 years since the accident. Matt’s example made all of us stronger; his legacy will live on in us.

Matt knew just about everyone in Inola and dropping his name gave credibility (or notoriety) to whatever was happening…we just had to say “I’m Matt Applegate’s mom, dad, sister-in-law, nephew, or niece” and things would happen.

Matt was generous to a fault and worried more about others than himself. He never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him. He was a softy at heart, taking groceries to someone’s house or paying a past due bill here and there for others. He excelled at “pushing buttons” and would call Jeanne “Mommy” in private because he knew it melted her heart and he could then get whatever he wanted. He had nicknames for everyone else, most of which cannot be repeated here. 

There are no words to express the love and care Janice and Tommy Landsaw provided to Matt for the past 26 years. They were extensions of Matt’s parents and because of their perseverance, Matt was saved. To Matt and his family, Janice and Tommy are angels.

Dear sweet Matt, we heard your first heartbeat and with your brother, we were blessed to be with you for your last. We know you heard us telling you it’s okay to go run and jump and be with your grandparents. After all, you were their first grandchild and they liked having you around without us being there so they could spoil you. 

We will see you again and until that time, we will be talking to you every day and following your example of strength and resiliency. There are no words to express how much we love you and miss you. We always knew you were special because the Lord could have taken you many times before, but we know now that He needs you more in Heaven. Your work here is done. Rest well, sweet boy and we will see you again. We love you…and like we always said, “love you more”.

Matt is survived by his parents, Jeanne Applegate; Teddy Applegate (Staci Landers); brother Kyle Applegate (Christina); nephews Tristan Bergstrom and Bradlee Applegate; niece Frankie Applegate; aunts Angie Rash (Brian), Lauren Lindeman (Mike), and Loraina Lamont (Eddie); uncles Merl Applegate (Leah) and Mark Stephens; grandmother Delores Wallace; cousins Alexis Stephens, Ashlyn Metzler (Jacob), Wes Stephens, Jason Smith (Quincee), Laura Martin (Jonathan), Amy Gonzalez (Miquel), Mary Martin (Colby), and Justin Payton; great uncles Jay Applegate (Linda), Carroll Applegate (Marcia) and Clifford Applegate (Joan); great aunts Peggy Brewer (Art) and Bernice Borja; and many other extended family members and dear friends. 

Matt is preceded in death by his grandparents Teddy Lee Applegate, Gene and Carolyn Stephens; aunt Julie Bynum; uncle Earl Applegate, his cousins Adam Applegate and Wade Hutchinson, and many other beloved great aunts/uncles, and cousins.