Matthew Spotted Bear

In Loving Memory of Matthew Reece Spotted Bear
 "Well Known Around the World"
 July 4, 1989 – July 14, 2025

Matthew Reece Spotted Bear, lovingly known as “Matt” or “Smiley,” made his journey to the Other Side Camp on July 14, 2025, at the age of 36. Born on July 4, 1989, in Mesa, Arizona, to Veronica Spotted Bear and Christopher MacCrate.  Matt was a proud member of the Ties-in-the-Bundle Clan and a Child of the Greasy Mouth Clan. He was given his Crow name, Well Known Around the World, by his great-grandfather Vincent Goes Ahead Sr. A name that now feels even more meaningful to those whose lives he touched.

Matt grew up in Pryor, Montana, where he spent his childhood surrounded by the traditions, stories, and values of his Apsáalooke people. He attended St. Charles Mission School and graduated as Valedictorian from Plenty Coups High School in 2007—a testament not only to his intelligence, but also to his deep dedication to everything he pursued. He was baptized at St. Charles Catholic Church and lovingly guided in faith by his Godparents, his uncle Max Spotted Bear Jr. and aunt Patricia Eastman. Years later, he returned that love by becoming Godparent to his beloved baby sister, Dana Rose.

Matt was a young man of many passions and talents.  He was a very intelligent person.  He could read at the 8th grade reading level when he was in the 3rd grade.   In high school, he loved and played basketball and ran cross country, earning two All-State awards and helping lead his team to a State Class C Championship in 2005-2006. He also competed nationally with the FFA chapter, sharing Indigenous Bison knowledge in Indiana where his chapter placed 1st in the Nation.  He loved drawing and was an excellent artist.  A creative soul, his high school art teacher submitted his work to the State competition where he placed 2nd. His journey continued at Rocky Mountain College, where he ran cross country on scholarship.

He loved Halloween—his favorite holiday—where he could fully unleash his imagination and playful spirit. Whether he was skateboarding like his hero Tony Hawk, four-wheeling through the hills, or carefully restoring the body of a car, Matt lived life with passion, focus, and a spark that made others gravitate toward him.  Matt was also a gamer.  He loved challenging the latest video games but he especially loved getting together with all his cousin/brothers and playing games all day and night.  Celebrating and honoring is culture was something that Matthew grew up with and so he carried it on by participating in handgames, dancing and pow-wows, and participating in all cultural events. 

He followed his love for cars to Sacramento, California, where he earned a Collision Repair & Refinish Technology Certificate from Universal Technical Institute in 2018. He worked with pride and precision at Big Sky Collision and Caliber Collision, and he also loved welding and grilling steaks and ribs for those he cared about: He was an excellent cook. He cheered loudly for the Plenty Coups Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Giants.

Matt’s kindness, loyalty, and humor made him a devoted partner, son, brother, father, and friend. He is survived by his life partner, Stormey Bad Bear, son, Reece Miller Spotted Bear, adopted sons that he loved and raised, Zeke Stops, and Hazen Stops. He leaves behind his mother, Veronica Kay Spotted Bear (William Big Day); his adopted father, Dale (Carletta Ami) Sinquah; and his father, Christopher (Kari) MacCrate. He is also survived by siblings Dennis Sinquah and Savannah Sinquah; nieces and nephews Alena, Meraya, and Kenyon Sinquah, and Laney Pretty On Top. His grandparents, Dorothy Spotted Bear, Anna DeCrane, Connie DeCrane, Agnes Goes Ahead Pretty Weasel, Rosemary Spotted Bear Round Face, Patrice Not Afraid, Sharon Smells, and Melton Spotted Bear Sr., uncles and aunts, Max (Walla) Spotted Bear, Luke Spotted Bear, Georgia (Calvin) Buckingham, Delia Spotted Bear, Janel Spotted Bear, Kimberly (Tafuna) Tusi, Roseanna (Mark) Denny, and James (Mandy) DeCrane; cousin/brothers/sisters, Marya (Elishah), Athena, Laval (Arlen), McKinley, Dwan, Colt, Lukas, Dallas, Christian, Tessa, Myron, Rose, Kenna, Jeremiah, Dana, Marcus, Terae, and Kim; along with a wide circle of uncles, aunts, cousins, and extended family.

Though our family is large and our hearts are heavy with grief, we know Matt is now surrounded by those who passed before him—his grandfather Max Spotted Bear Sr., brother Wes Luke Spotted Bear, and grandparents Robert and Connie MacCrate—as well as his great-grandparents Richard Thomas DeCrane, Violet Josephine BirdinGround, Theodore Spotted Bear, and Emma Coffey Smells.

Matthew comes from a very large family.  Extended family include DeCrane, Goes Ahead, BirdinGround, Cloud, Old Elk, Joy Brien family, Round Face, Richardsons, Big Lake, Marva Windy Boy family, Spotted Bears of North Dakota, Coffey, Rogers, Matthew Stops family, Horse, Rose Turns Plenty family, Josephine Whiteman family, Gloria Cummins family, and Joseph Bull Tail family.

To know Matt was to love him. His laughter, his fierce hugs, his steady presence, and his bright spirit will never be forgotten. Our hearts are on the ground as we say goodbye, but his legacy will live on in every story we share, every car restored, every sketch drawn, and every Halloween costume worn with joy.

We will miss you always, “Smiley.”
You truly were well known around the world—and deeply loved.