Matthew Aaron “Matt” Markley, age 48, of Hays, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning, January 27, 2026, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. He was born August 23, 1977, in Hays, Kansas, to Rick Markley and Kimberly Weigel. Matt was a 1996 graduate of Hays High School.
Matt enjoyed a distinguished career in information technology spanning nearly two decades. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Technology Management from Kansas State University in 2001, he began his career at Microsoft Corporation in Dallas, Texas, as a Solution Architect for over five years. He then advanced to Enterprise Solutions Architect at IBM for over 11 years, where he spearheaded projects in cloud migration, IT discovery, and infrastructure management. In his later years, he held various consulting positions. He held more than a dozen U.S. patents primarily assigned to IBM, focusing on IT migration, cloud infrastructure analysis, and software component management, and he earned numerous key IT-related accreditations throughout his career, including in system administration and architecture.
Matt loved sports and outdoor activities, especially boating, camping, and riding his motorcycle. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. His other hobbies included playing the guitar, drawing, computers and gaming, traveling, and cheering for the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas State Wildcats.
Matt is survived by his father, Rick Markley of Hoyt, Kansas; his mother and stepfather, Kimberly and Terry Weigel of Hays, Kansas; his three beloved children, Dr. Payton Markley; of Denver, Colorado, Keaton Markley; of Tucson, Arizona, and Merrek Markley; of Hays, Kansas; his three brothers, Eric Markley (Danielle); of Hays, Kansas, Tyler Weigel (Erin); of Overland Park, Kansas, and Tanner Weigel (Abby); of Overland Park, Kansas; his nieces, Kamree Friend (Hayden) and Scarlette Weigel; his nephews, Shae Markley; Sage Markley; Hudson Weigel; Sterling Weigel; Shepard Weigel; and Graham Weigel; his great-niece, Fynlee Friend; his great-nephews, Damian Gager; Baker Friend; and Jonah Friend; his grandparents, Dennis and Kathy Hamel of Plainville, Kansas; and his many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his son, Aaron Matthew Markley; his stepmother, Vicki Markley; his uncles, Aaron Markley; Kelly Hamel; and Kyle Hamel; his aunts Lisa Markley and Michelle Burlison; and his grandparents, Joyce Newell, Arnold 'Buck' and Nona Markley, and Kenneth and Elizabeth 'Betty' Weigel.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Celebration Community Church, I-70 and Exit 157, Hays, Kansas, with Pastor Brant Rice, Officiating. Burial will be in the Saint Michael the Archangel Cemetery, south of Hays, Kansas.
A wake for Matt will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd, Hays. Kansas. Visitation will be held at noon on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Celebration Community Church, immediately prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. a reception will follow from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Smoky Hill Country Club, 3303 Hall Street, Hays, Kansas, to celebrate Matt’s life.
A memorial fund is being established in honor of Matt. In lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating to the memorial fund and make checks payable to: Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
Condolences can be emailed to [email protected] or left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com