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AMHERST - "He will swallow up death and victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces." (Isaiah 25:8)

Matthew Hayes Lee, 48, beloved husband and cherished father, left this world for the next on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011.

He was born April 10, 1963, in Waterbury, Conn., to Mayril and Bryce Lee. He moved from Cheshire, Conn., to Amherst in the early 1970s and made this town his home. Matthew, an Amherst Regional High School Class of 1982 student, attended Holyoke Community College and Curry College and graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree as an SSPO in 1999.

Matt served as a dedicated, hard-working police officer since 1992 for the towns of Sunderland, Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham and New Salem, and was a campus police officer at Amherst College for most of his career.

Matt's four daughters were always proud of the kind of police officer their dad was. He was well trained in CPR, first responder, first aid, defensive tactics, LEAPS, radar, lidar, F.A.T.S, CMV enforcement, basic fire investigation, and earned many other law enforcement certifications.

Matt loved sports and played hockey and baseball. For many years, he participated in the Quabbin Valley Over Thirty Baseball League. He was a volunteer coach for youth basketball, hockey and softball. His passion was law enforcement. He was a member of the Hampshire and Franklin County TRIAD Association, the Hampshire County Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Massachusetts Police Association, and he was a constable for the town of Amherst.

Matt loved the outdoors. He noticed the details of nature. He liked to fish and camp with his children. He loved the ocean and taking his family to the beach. His favorite place was Lake Wyola because it brought back childhood memories, especially of his dad, who was one of his most beloved heroes. He enjoyed spending time at his home in the yard working around the house and making memories with his family.

Catherine, his wife of 22 years, says that Matt felt his greatest accomplishment was his four daughters. He worked hard to provide for them. He loved and cherished them and he was proud of their accomplishments. Matt gave his girls their good looks, common sense, humor, compassion, their blue eyes, sense of work ethic, selflessness, and their funny way of dancing.

Caylin, his oldest, says he made them brave and strong. His most important gift to his children was the unspoken desire to have hopes and dreams. To his wife, Matt left the gift of life as he stood by her side many years ago while she battled Stage 3 cancer. He left her precious family memories that she will hold close to her heart.

Matt always had a quirky way of making everyone laugh. He told funny stories and jokes. He will be remembered for his many characters, including the redneck with crooked teeth, Stanley Stanley, Slim and the hog-hunter. He often imitated comical movie characters and quoted funny lines from television shows and movies. His favorite quote from the movie "Christmas Vacation": "Clark, that there's an RV."

Matt is survived by his wife, Catherine; his four daughters, Caylin, Hannah, Emma and Grace; his mother, Mayril; brothers Bryce Jr., Benjamin, Weeden and Malachi; sisters Teddie, Terrie, Brya and Bobbie; other extended family and numerous friends.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, with burial following in Wildwood Cemetery. Calling hours will be today, Tuesday, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lee Daughters College Trust Fund, care of Catherine Lee/UMass Five College Credit Union, 200 Westgate Center Drive, P.O. Box 1060, Hadley, MA 01035. Obituary and register at www.douglassfuneral.com.