Matthew "Beef" Britton Meech

Matthew Britton Meech, AKA “Beef,” was born April 21, 2001, in Loxahatchee, FL to Jeff and Maureen Meech.  He joined his big brothers Ryan, Justin, and John, and later became a fantastic big brother to Tressa. He attended school in Florida until the 3^rd grade and then moved with his family to Idaho.  A tender-hearted, sensitive kid, even at a young age, he saw the fragile nature of humankind. He was quick to give a hug, boost others with a smile, or antagonize his siblings (occasionally) to lighten the mood. He graduated from Lake City High School in 2019.  He attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in literature and history in May 2023.  

Beef was a deep thinker who thrived in challenging the surface level of understanding life.  He could write papers that were so deep and prolific like the Master writers of Literature who speak a kind of ancient and profound English most mere mortals can’t process.  He could dissect the profound meaning of Silent Hill, and the overlay of characters and the soundtrack. He could be so mesmerized and engaged in conversations that he could end up disregarding the frozen smoothie dripping down his chin, or miss his turn when driving to the airport or even when headed home. He always wanted to learn more.  Talk more.  Be with the people around him, more. He would be so focused on the people around him, the individuals telling the story, the individuals he cared about, and was building relationships with…that he would lose his focus on other things around him, leading to minor mishaps, which often brought humor and comic relief.

Beef was a kind soul who always championed the underdog or marginalized individual…with an obvious disdain for the hypocrisy and superficiality of the world.  At the same time, he was particular about his fashion…which was his artistic outlet, and that mane of glorious hair. Not only did he like variety, because it IS the spice of life, but he would also, quite literally, add the spice.  To life, his food, or the status quo of what was an “acceptable” dance move.      

Yet, those who knew Beef also know that he struggled.  He struggled with attention to detail, like forgetting to wipe the crumbs off his face after he ate 2 cookies as a toddler and then claimed a “ghost” ate them.  As a teenager in high school, he sometimes struggled to keep track of which assignments were due and when they were due. Early in his sophomore year, he completely forgot about an assignment on September 11, so he handed in a two-sentence sheet of paper. Thankfully, Mr Affeldt, his study strategies teacher, advocated for Matthew. This teacher, Mrs. Midgley agreed to give him another chance. And that is where his writing career and love of history really took root....and apparently, his ability to procrastinate…He was a firm believer in “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow”  

But really, the procrastination was because Beef was a perfectionist.  He had sketched and re-sketched an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe so many times, seeking to get it just perfect, hoping someday to have it as a tattoo, that he has Mexican artists now questioning their own renditions.  

Those who knew and loved Beef, are undoubtedly asking, why?  We will never know.  He was already planning his next great adventures: (finding his true ring size so the ring he wanted for Christmas would fit, meeting up with friends on that Friday, especially to see Tallon, whom he hadn’t seen for some time, applying to  Boise State to get his masters, and traveling to Italy).  He left us no clues.  What we DO know is that Beef was a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time. He was a master of a brother, son, friend, nephew, cousin, grandson, and student. A perfect dichotomy of “Beef-ness.”  In his short life, he touched so many lives, and for the better.  

And to you, Beef, we say “Ciao….for now.”