Matthew Scott Eagles was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on July 9, 1985, and died March 8, 2022, in Peoria Arizona.

He grew up with his family on an acreage in rural Cedar Falls, and graduated from Cedar Falls High School. Besides being a top student, he participated in band, wrestling, and soccer. He was very talented in music, particularly piano and percussion. With some high school friends he formed a band, creating some original pieces and publishing their own CD.

He played percussion for services at the family’s church in Waterloo, and later at his church in Iowa City. He was granted a Presidential Scholarship for his Undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa, and graduated with a Bachelor's in physics. He then completed medical school and received his M.D. He did his residency in Chicago, and a fellowship in cardio-thoracic anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He then moved to the Phoenix area to practice anesthesiology.

Matthew was an adventurous person, always wanting to try out new recreational opportunities and sharing them with friends and family. He started rock climbing at an early age, initially with a small church sponsored group, then for many years with his father, and later his girlfriend, Desiree, in such places as Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, New Brunswick Canada, Arizona, and Devils Tower Wyoming. Desiree also opened up the world of horseback riding to him.

Matthew was a kind and generous person and cared deeply for his patients, always giving them the best care he could.

Besides his friends and family, Matthew loved dogs, even going so far as taking their golden retrievers in a backpack when he and Desiree went hiking, because the dog had become too frail.

Matthew was preceded in death by his grandparents, two uncles, and two aunts. He is survived by his parents, Derek and Pam Eagles; brother, Nathan Eagles; sister, Alicia Eagles; girlfriend, Desiree Ekundayo; nephew, Liam Eagles; nieces, Greta and Evie Eagles; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Matthew was loved by many of us and will be greatly missed.

*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.

Please enter the amount you would like to give and click continue.