Matthew Loy Shepley

Matthew Loy Shepley of Goodyear, AZ was suddenly taken from us on April 6, 2023, while in Las Vegas.

Matt was born May 7, 1969 in Frederick, Maryland, the second child of three and the eldest son of Dorinda Shepley and the late Donald L. Shepley.  He graduated from Thomas Johnson High School and Salisbury University, where he played on the hockey team.

While growing up, he was a great fan of WWE and Pro Wrestling.  He revealed his creative talent when he designed his own Championship Wrestling Belts at age 13 (one of the wrestlers even wanted to buy one).  His artistic talents were also shown in the sketched portraits he later did. 

While in high school, he worked as a projectionist in the local movie theater and later was manager at Carmike Cinema in Ocean City, Maryland.  He used his artistic and creative talents in designing Murals and even staged an event with a parachuter for the opening of Val Kilmer's "The Saint" in 1997.

About a year after high school, he became interested in bodybuilding, took a class and started lifting weights.  He became serious about it in 1996 after reading about Chet Yorton, the father of natural bodybuilding, and then focused on nutrition and training.  Within two years, he competed in a bodybuilding show for the first time. 

After becoming bored with his job as a statistician at the US Census Bureau, Matt founded OCB Natural Bodybuilding in 2003 and promoted competition events, expanding across the country.   He also worked with Doug Miller in developing a Core Protein Supplement with an improved taste.  In addition, he was a photographer, specializing in physique photography, and a polygrapher. Matt was also creator, editor and publisher of "Fitness and Physique" magazine from 2003-2014.

On Sep 6, 2014, Matt married the former Salai Banda in Potomac, Maryland.  After a couple of years in Frederick, they moved to Arizona.

In addition to his wife and mother, Matt will also be sadly missed by his brother, Lee Shepley; a sister, Camille Jerome; his nephew, Levi Jerome & wife Brianna; a niece, Chelsi & husband John Paczek and their children Tegan and Bohdi; and sister Stacy Toy; and his fluffy dog, Buffy; and by his uncles, aunts, and cousins.  

He will also be fondly remembered by his friends, especially Greg Seymour, Frank Formicella, Pat Kauffman and Steve Powers; and his OCB partners, Marjorie Thrash, Sean Sullivan, Chad Austin and Frank Meekins.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, April 21, 2023 at Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A. (Fred), 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, MD.

A celebration of Matthew's life will take place at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the funeral home.  Pastor Kenneth Brown will officiate.  Interment will be at  St. Paul's  Lutheran Cemetery in Utica.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.