Buddy Baldwin

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Matthew Clark “Buddy” Baldwin, Jr., age 34, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.

Buddy was born in Joplin, Missouri, on August 7, 1982, the son of Matthew Baldwin, Sr. and Cynthia Lee Goodwin. He resided in Joplin throughout his lifetime, graduating from Joplin High School in 2001. Buddy participated in many events during his life, but his favorite was the Magic Moments Program, which involved therapy horseback riding for the disabled. He greatly enjoyed music, especially country and Christmas music. Buddy was a natural performer and one of his favorite activities was performing his special concerts for his family during their Fourth of July holiday gatherings. He also loved taping his pretend show with one of his former teachers, Mr. Beezley, called “The Eric and Buddy Show”. Buddy enjoyed playing Nintendo, talking on the phone, taking pictures, Scooby Doo and rooting on his Philadelphia Eagles. He loved all animals, especially Aunt Deb’s dog, Harley. Buddy deeply loved his family and friends and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his two grandfathers, Bill Goodwin and Don Baldwin; and a brother, Micheal Casey Baldwin.

Survivors include his mother, Cynthia Lee Smith, and husband, Keith, of Joplin, Missouri; his father, Matthew Baldwin, and wife, Mary, of Morris, Oklahoma; two grandmothers, his caregiver, Mary Goodwin, of Joplin, and Betty Baldwin, also of Joplin; a brother, Dakota Smith, of Joplin; a sister, Jessica Smith, of the State of Texas; six uncles, Jim Haynes and wife, Barb, of Joplin, Dan Haynes of the State of Texas, Bill Goodwin and wife, Sunny, of Joplin, Christopher Allen Baldwin of Kansas City, Missouri, Donald Charles Baldwin, Jr., of the State of Georgia and Martin Leon Baldwin of Joplin; two aunts, Debbie Randall and husband, Terry, of the State of Oklahoma and Jackie Pulasky and husband, Paul, of Springfield, Missouri; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.






Funeral Mass for Buddy is 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 6, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Joplin with Father Justin Monaghan officiating. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin. Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin. Those honoring Buddy’s life by serving as pallbearers are Bill Goodwin, Jim Haynes, Dan Haynes, Zach Goodwin, Andy Grissom and Paul Pulasky with Brian Smallwood, Alec Goodwin, Nick Goodwin and Eric Beezley serving as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Buddy’s memory to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in care of the mortuary. Online condolences may be sent through our website www.thornhilldillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.