Matthew "Smiley" Aaron Isom

Matthew "Smiley" Aaron Isom, of Bourbon, MO, was born on Wednesday, November 9, 1977, in Exeter, NH, to Richard Dana Isom and Wendy Lee Davila, nee Hersey.  He passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, at his home in Bourbon, MO, at the age of 48 years, 4 months and 20 days.

Matthew was a proud graduate of Cuba High School, Class of 1995, a place where many first came to know his warm spirit and easy smile. He carried that same spirit with him throughout his life, touching the hearts of everyone he met.

He worked as a forklift driver at Paramount Cap Factory in Bourbon, Missouri, where he was known not just for his hard work, but for his kindness and the way he brightened even the longest days. To know Matthew was to know someone who never met a stranger—someone who could strike up a conversation with anyone and leave them feeling like an old friend.

Matthew found joy in the simple, beautiful things—nature, animals, and tending to his garden. Whether he was growing flowers or preparing a meal in the kitchen, he put his heart into everything he did, creating not just beauty and nourishment, but memories.

Music was one of Matthew’s greatest passions. He loved to play the guitar and sing, sharing that gift with others in a way that brought people together. His nickname, “Smiley,” was more than just a name—it was who he was. His loving, happy demeanor was a light that drew people in and lifted them up.

Above all else, Matthew loved his family. They were his world, his greatest pride and deepest joy. Every smile he shared, every song he played, every kind word he offered reflected the love he carried for them.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Isom; step-father, Alfred Bonser; aunt, Susan Gail McGinley.

Matthew is survived by his fiancée, Sandra Simpson of Bourbon, MO; mother, Wendy Davila of Owensville, MO; step-mother, Sue Bonser of Cuba, MO; step-daughter, Amber Simpson of Bourbon, MO; siblings, Justin (Tiphani) Isom of Owensville, MO, Christina (Shawn) Brooks of Cuba, MO, Rebecca Pagliccia of Owensville, MO, Mary (Marc) Young of Wakefield, MA and Robert (Tammy) Bonser of Bourbon, MO; grandchildren he thought of as his own; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family chose cremation as his final disposition and had a private memorial gathering.

Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, MO.

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