Matthew Parker

Matthew Hughes Parker, 21, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 12, 2017, in St. Louis.

He was born Oct. 20, 1995, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Shawn and Danna Banton Parker.

Matthew was a senior at Saint Louis University, where he was majoring in English, with a double minor in computer science and mathematics. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at Saint Louis University.

He graduated summa cum laude from Notre Dame Regional High School in 2014. He was on the swim team and tennis team all four years, where he met some of his closest friends. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Science Club, Robotics Team and several other clubs while in high school.

Matthew had a huge heart for helping others, as evidenced by his many hours of community service volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Saint Francis Medical Center and attending school mission trips. In his free time, he loved spending time with his family at Kentucky Lake and Sanibel Island, Florida, and loved gaming with his friends.

He worked for Pickleman's Deli in St. Louis.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include his parents, Shawn and Danna Parker of Cape Girardeau; sisters, Lindsay Parker and Lily Parker of Cape Girardeau; maternal grandmother, Betty Banton of Louisville; maternal grandfather, Charles (Linda) Banton of Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and paternal grandfather, Buddy (Cindy) Parker of Murray, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Deanna Hughes Parker.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. Parish prayers will be at 7:45 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Revs. Michael Casteel and John Harth officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Matthew H. Parker Memorial Scholarship at Notre Dame Regional High School.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.