Matthew Kay Ishino

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, in the snowy mountain pass near Palisades Reservoir, Matthew Kay Ishino passed away in a tragic car accident. The sudden loss of a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother has broken the hearts of both his family and the community of Shelley, ID. 

Matt was born November 18, 1958, in San Antonio, Texas. The third child of Minoru and Edith Ishino, Matt was kind, helpful, and hardworking from an early age. After losing his own father at age six, he moved to Rexburg, ID to live on his uncle’s farm. The move to Idaho gave Matt the opportunity to begin fostering a love of nature he enjoyed for his whole life. His childhood was filled with fishing, hunting, and working on the farm alongside his uncle and younger brother. Matt grew up attending school in Rexburg and graduated from Madison High School in 1977. After high school, Matt followed in his family’s footsteps and spent years as a custom farmer in Treasure Valley. 

A blind date in December of 1984 led Matt to his wife and eternal companion Michele Naylor. They were married on September 28, 1985, in Idaho Falls, after which they made their home in Shelley, ID where they raised their three children, Austin, Justin, and Michaela. Michele taught elementary school, and Matt eventually began a long career working for Anderson Inc., delivering equipment across Idaho and the surrounding region. The job allowed him to spend the next 27 years traveling, during which he became an expert on everything—from the best places to stop to the most scenic or fastest routes between destinations. Matt could honestly say that it was the journey that mattered, not the destination. 

In June of 1985, Matt converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Matt immediately became involved and committed to his church and church callings. He served faithfully as ward clerk for several bishoprics including serving as ward clerk to a student ward at BYU Idaho. Matt also served as a scout master in the Boy Scouts for many years. Being involved in his ward and in his community gave him immense joy and fulfillment.

However, his greatest joy was being a father and grandfather. He loved taking his children on road trips to Jackson and cheering them on at sports events. As a grandfather, he delighted in spoiling his grandchildren. He and Michele shared a love for camping, often taking their RV to Heise, Kelly Canyon, and they loved visits to Island Park to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Matt was a kind, hardworking, and caring man who left a lasting impact on all those who knew him. Everything, from his infectious laugh to his unwavering insistence on having rice with every meal, will forever be missed by his family and friends. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Michele; his three children, Austin, Justin (Erika), and Michaela; his sister, Karie Ann; his brother, Roger (Barbara); and his three grandchildren, Conner, Gavin, and Madison.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Minoru and Edith, and his older sister, Leslie Campbell.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff, first responders, and kind passersby who provided care and support to Matt and Michele after the accident.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, December 23, 2024, at the Shelley Fourth Ward Chapel, 183 N. Park in Shelley. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6:00-7:30 pm at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak Street, Shelley and Monday morning from 9:30-10:45 am at the church. Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery immediately following the services.

Those who would like to participate in the funeral service remotely are invited to view the service on a live broadcast at the following link:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/broadcasts/local-meeting-370807?lang=eng

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