There’s a race of men that don’t fit in,
A race that can’t stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain’s crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don’t know how to rest.
So begins the poem “The Men That Don’t Fit In,” by Robert W. Service, a fitting homage to the legacy of Matthew Wayne Dick, born February 21, 1974, the first son of Danny and Rose (Allison) Dick. Throughout his life Matt never took the well-beaten path, instead his was a journey of risk and adventure in the outdoors. He spent much of his early life fishing, hunting and being a staple on the rodeo circuit, first as a bull rider, then as a respected judge. Most of the jobs Matt worked had something to do with the outdoors and animals, whether it was at a vet clinic, as a farm hand, or at a sale barn. Matt would eventually find himself, once again drawn to the outdoors as the manager of the Bennett Spring Campground. It was here Matt would find his life partner and significant other, Julie Berry. In 2021, Matt would be provided the opportunity to work his dream job as a ranch hand for the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Company. This job would allow Matt the opportunity to integrate two of his passions, the outdoors and working with cattle, with his loyal companion Moose by his side. Matt’s cancer diagnosis might have dampened his roaming spirit, but it would strengthen his relationship with God. With the unwavering support of Julie and his life-long friends, Matt took his last breath on March 27, 2024. His gypsy blood was finally able to rest.
Matthew “Matt” Wayne Dick, 50, of Fulton, died March 27, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on February 21, 1974, to Danny and Rose (Allison) Dick.
Matt was survived by his mother who passed away on April 6th ten days after his death. He is now survived by his significant other, Julie Berry; his children Kennedy (Trinity) Callahan, Matthew “Preston” Dick, and Kameron Dick; two grandchildren, Braxton and Lennox Callahan; three siblings, Mandy Britton, Marshall (Angie) Dick, and Michelle (Chris) Lewis; seven nieces and nephews; two great nieces and his loyal Labrador retriever, Moose.
Matt was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his father, Danny Dick; and his brother-in-law, Scott Britton.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Meisenheimer-Page-Dady Funeral Home in Tipton. Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Tipton Community Baptist Church. Inurnment will follow in Moreau Cemetery, southeast of Tipton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Danny Dick Memorial Fund.