Matthew David Hinkin

We have lost a good man. Matthew David Hinkin succumbed to his 16-year battle with Parkinsons Disease, March 16th, 2026, at the age of 62 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a good and faithful servant leader, dedicated to his family and the Knoxville community.

Matt was born September 23,1963 at Commanche County Hospital, Lawton, Oklahoma, the sixth child of Paul Edwin Hinkin and Mabel Agnes (Wesson) Hinkin. He quickly started his traveling career in this Army family moving to British Army post Rhiendahlen, West Germany at age 5 months with later stops in New York City, Salina, Kansas, Great Falls, Montana and finally Manhattan, Kansas in 1974. Matt graduated from Manhattan High School (MHS) in 1981. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio and Television Journalism from Kansas State University in 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Meteorology at The University of Kansas in 1989.

Matt always had musical interests singing in various choirs at MHS and Kansas State as well as playing the sousaphone in the marching band at both schools. For many years, he was an active member of the acapella vocal group Streetside. After college, he toured coast to coast for a year with the Christian singing group, The Continental Singers. Matt was an excellent junior golfer, an interest he kept throughout the years. His professional broadcasting career started with Manhattan High and K-State sports for KSDB, the student radio station at Kansas State and then he went on to television news and sports at KSNF TV, Joplin, Missouri. Finding his true love in meteorology, he went to KU while doing weekend weather for KSNT 27 in Topeka. His real start in weather came when he accepted a job at WATE TV6 in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1990. 32 years later, he retired in 2022. At WATE he became East Tennessee’s most beloved weatherman. He had several other interests including the Knoxville Zoo, the Emerald Youth Project, Grace Baptist Church, the PJ The Parkinson's Foundation and visiting many local schools to talk about weather.

Matt married Deborah Annette Jack on August 15, 1992, in Knoxville. They welcomed their son Joshua David Hinkin in 2000. Debbie was lost in a car accident in November 2020.

Matt is survived by his son Joshua, Knoxville, his mother Mabel, brother Douglas P. Hinkin (spouse Maureen, and children Sarah, Christopher, Katelyn, Abby) of Manhattan, KS; sister Beth Ann Cartner (spouse Bruce and sons Adam, Chad, Sean) of Anna, TX; brother Lawrence W. Hinkin (children Daniel, Kristin) of Colorado Springs, CO; and Barbara J. Setter (spouse Ralph and sons Sam, Peter) of Omaha, NE. He was preceded in death by his father Paul and brother Daniel T. Hinkin (spouse Eileen, children Stephen, Micheal, Erin).

The family gives thanks for the heartfelt care and compassion shown by all those who have supported Matt during his journey home. We can’t list you all, but you know who you are. Lady B, Marilyn, Karen, Tammy, the Grace Baptist family especially the ‘small group’ and the Wednesday night supper guys, Emory Mills Assisted Living staff, Isabel Senft-Daniel at PJ Parkinsons, Shalom Hospice and especially his private caretaker Kim Busby.

The family will receive visitors at Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oakridge Highway, from 10:00am-11:45am Saturday March 28th with Funeral service to follow at noon. A private Celebration of Life gathering will follow. Private interment will be at a later date.

Memorials can be made to the Matt Hinkin Legacy Donor Advised Charitable Fund at The East Tennessee Foundation

525 Portland Street, Knoxville, 37919, or EastTennesseeFoundation.org, or PJ Parkinsons Support at https://www.pjparkinsons.org/, orGrace Baptist Church gracebc.org/give

Mynatt Funeral Home, Powell Chapel is honored to serve the family of Matthew David Hinkin.

Mynatt Funeral Home Powell Chapel * 2000 Powell Drive * Powell, TN 37849 * (865) 362-5382 *