Matthew Paul Gumbel, 34, died April 24, 2010, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle following a three-week fight for his life, from injuries suffered in an explosion and fire at the Tesoro Refinery, Anacortes, on April 2, 2010.

Matt was born in Seattle on Jan. 5, 1976 to Paul D. and Shauna R. (Mikesell) Gumbel. At six months of age, Matt moved with his family to Oak Harbor where he attended school and graduated with the Class of 1994 in the top 10 of his class. Following graduation Matt moved to Seattle and attended Shoreline Community College. While there, he worked at various jobs, including Red Robin, Home Tech Inc., Beacon Hill Development Company and Expertech Network Installation Inc.

Matt also lived in Colorado for a year and worked for his Uncle Jeff but because he missed family and friends so much he moved back to Seattle. Matt realized after being away from Oak Harbor for almost 10 years how much he missed it and moved back to Oak Harbor in 2006. In 2007, Matt tested at Tesoro and was hired by the Tesoro Refinery as an operator. Matt met Kristin Griffith, a young barista at Starbucks Coffee shop. He and Kristin have been together for three years and were engaged in November 2009. This past year, Matt and Kristin purchased their first home in Oak Harbor.

Matt loved life and loved the out-of-doors. He was a risk taker, loved snowboarding, biking, climbing, hiking and driving his car, sometimes too fast. He loved Deception Pass and Rosario Beach.

Matt is survived by his parents, Shauna and Paul, one sister, Amy and her son Cody, Kristin his fiancé and her daughter, Jordan, all of Oak Harbor, his grandparents, Larry and Billie Mikesell of Shoreline and Kathy Gumbel, also of Shoreline. Also surviving are 10 aunts and uncles: Rick and Liz Gumbel of Smokey Point, Bob and Rachel Gumbel of Idaho, Charlie Gumbel of Seattle, Angela and Viktor Kinderis of Lynnwood, Kathy and Dave Shoemaker of Shoreline, Jim and Nancy Gumbel of Maryland, Miriam and Dave Grant of Mill Creek, Larry and Cristi Mikesell of Virginia, Jeff Mikesell of Colorado and Chuck and Diana Mikesell of Lynnwood. Numerous cousins also survive and many, many friends.

A Celebration of Life Service for Matt Gumbel will be held at the Oak Harbor High School Student Union Building on Saturday, May 8, at 2 p.m. with Rev. David Engle officiating. A reception will follow for everyone. Friends may sign the online guest book at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gumbel family by visiting this Web site: http://www.mattgumbel.webs.com/. Or donations can also be made to the Tesoro Incident Family Fund at Tesoro Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 248, Anacortes, WA 98221 or United SteelWorkers Local 12-591, P.O. Box 483, Anacortes, WA 98221.