Joseph Matthew Green

Joseph Matthew Green, 49, lived the kind of life that left stories in every room he walked into. On March 10, 2026, Joe passed from this world, leaving behind a family who loved him fiercely and a community full of people who could all say the same thing: if you met Joe once, you never forgot him.

Joe was the son of Mary Caudill and Jack Green (Beverly Green). He grew up surrounded by family and carried that same loyalty and love into every part of his life.

He was the proud husband of Rhonda Green, and together they built a life full of laughter, hard lessons, forgiveness, and a love that lasted 23 years. The kind of love that doesn’t disappear when someone leaves this earth.

Joe was a father first and always. He leaves behind his sons Preston Green and Tyler Meadors, and his daughter Abby Green, who were the pride of his life. He also loved his bonus daughters Heaven Stowers and Taylor Dillingham, never making a distinction between who was “his” and who wasn’t — if you were in Joe’s life, you were family.

One of the greatest joys of Joe’s life was his grandson Archie, who truly was the best part of him. Archie brought out Joe’s softest side, and there was nothing he loved more than being “Papaw.”

He is also survived by his brothers Chris Simmons (Kathy) and Jason Simmons (Tracy), and his sisters Sara Halcomb and Jackie Meredith (Mike), along with many nieces and nephews who will forever remember their Uncle Joe as the one who showed up with stories, advice, and usually something in his hand to give away.

A special place in Joe’s heart belonged to Dianne Echols, who he loved as a second mother and who stood beside him through many seasons of life. And his uncle Howard Owens who has loved and cherished a special relationship throughout this life

Joe was a retired deputy sheriff, a job he wore with pride and stories he could tell for hours. Whether you had five minutes or five hours, Joe could fill the time with tales from the road, lessons learned the hard way, and the kind of humor only someone who had truly lived could deliver.

He never met a stranger. If you sat down beside him, you were likely leaving as a friend. Joe believed visits shouldn’t be rushed, conversations should be honest, and if someone needed help, you helped them. Many young people found a mentor in him, even when they didn’t realize that’s what he was doing.

Joe’s love language was gift giving. If he cared about you, you knew it — because he’d find something that made him think of you and put it in your hands with a grin.

Joe held strong to his faith and attended iLive Church, believing in grace, redemption, and the promise that this life is not the end.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Nelly Ruth Owens, maternal grandfather Matthew Owens, his sister Rachel Cosby, and his nephew Triston Morrison.

There is comfort in knowing that when Joe reached heaven’s gates, he was not walking in alone. He was met by many loved ones who had gone before him.

Joe leaves behind a thousand stories, a thousand laughs, and a thousand reminders that life should be lived loudly, honestly, and with love.

And if Joe were here to write the last line himself, it would probably be simple:

“Don’t stand around being sad too long — go live your life and tell a good story.”

He will be loved, missed, and talked about for the rest of our days.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hardy & Son Funeral Home, Bowling Green Chapel with burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery in

 Scottsville. Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m.-1p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.