|
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES
Click below to share your memories, stories, condolences, pictures, or thoughts of Cory. These memories will be
a great comfort to the family. Your email address and your name will not be displayed on this page, unless you specify
to do so. Your comments will appear below. To send a tribute, email to remembering.cory@yahoo.com .
08/03
hey cory. i was just sitting here thinking about you, about how much i miss you. there's not a day that goes by when i
don't think about you. i'm sad but the thought of you makes me smile. i always laugh when i think about all the crazy things
you did. i finally met your parents!! i met your mom a few weeks ago and i met your dad this week. you look just like your
dad. we were talking about you and i started to cry and your mom just sat there and hugged me on the couch. it was soo good
to finally meet them though. you have a great family and they miss you so much, and so do i. i was telling my sister all about
you the other day and how you burnt your nose that night... she thought it was halarious (it was funny, but i know it hurt)
well i gotta go, but i just wanted you to know i was thinking about you, even though you know that anyways. i love you cory
dale.
love always, sarah
He had his Mom's face and smile..He had his Dad's disposition and freckles..He was truly amazing to us all. Cory is
all gone now and we can't understand why, but he's gone......We miss him and love him dearly, forever..
08/09
"A million words wouldn't bring you back, I know because I've tried.........Neither
would a million tears, I know because I've cried."
08/05
dear mrs. karen and mr. frek.....
i never knew you that well. you know my dad gary lewis. but all i know of
you is what from cory told me . which sounds great. i wish there was something i could say to help or to bring him back.
but i really dont know what to say to anybody or do anymore,,,, i pray to god everyday to help you get through this i really
hate that this happened.. i still ask him why cory? maybe one day ill have an answer...maybe when i learn to accept
it.. im really sorry.... if there's anythiing you ever need i'd be more than happy to help.....god bless you ..... ~~jessie
lewis~~
08/12
Whats up CUZ, just sitting here thinking about you. It says that if someone is thinking about you then you are never gone,
if that is true you will be here forever. They say that time heals but we are forever broken, you were a part of all of our
families lives in many ways. I will never forget when we used to wrestle on the trampoline, we would stay out there for hours
showing out in front of a camera. When your mom and dad, my mom and Harold, and me and you played golf, we said we would beat
them all, but when it was all said and done we came in second behind karen and freck by only a few strokes-thanks to you pulling
my slack. Even though cousins, you and Jason were like brothers to me, and now your gone, but what helps me everyday is that
i know i will see you again, and i wont ever lose my brother again. Im glad i have you watching over me, i wouldnt trust anybody
else. Watch over me on the streets, I know you will keep me safe, you will never be forgotten. So until we meet again, I love
you and save a spot for me. Allen
08/12
hey, little brother. It's your sister, as usual, callin' and buggin'! Tonight, I went
to Cole's bedroom and caught him sitting on the floor holding the picture of us at the zoo. I sat down on the floor with him
and he just started crying. We all miss you so much. I know you go through my head 24/7, but I'm used to it, I've
worried about you since the day you were born. I miss calling and telling you to clean your room or wash the dishes
or come take off my garbage or sneak me one of mom's candles
over, but don't worry, I will later. You got a break this
time, but I'll be there someday!
Anyway, I'll let you go for now, not forever.
Love, Jamer
08/12
 Tomorrow is the first day of school at Choudrant High School (2003). There will be much
sadness in the halls, in the rooms, and in the hearts of all who attend there. By the lockers, it will not be the same. In the gym, it will not be the same. During
lunch, it will not be the same. When the bell rings and all are rushing to their vehicles, it will not be the same. After school when everyone is at the store, it will not be the same.
No, it will not be the same. For now there is an Angel Boy watching over. He will be the glowing
light for all. He can't be seen, but felt. He will be joking and laughing. He has a happy heart, and a bright light.
Make him proud. Make him as proud as his Mom and Dad are of him.
Ms. Sue Wonna
|
8/13
Today was the first day of school. I was with Robin in the gym when Mr. Postel
was talkin bout Cory and all we could do was cry. We miss him so much, everyone does. Everyday I hear someone talkin bout
Cory, as always it is bout how they miss him makin them laugh. It is goin to be hard for the next few days or even weeks with
out Cory there with us at school, but for who ever reads this you and I know that Cory is there doin something retarded just
to make someone feel better. Mrs. Karen and Mr. Freck you are in all of our prayers, to the rest of the family I will be prayin
for you also.
Love always
Kimberly Toney
Dearest Cory Dale.
I was standing outside during lunch yesterday
and starting thinking about you like usual. I saw the stairs you used to always sit on, and the only thing that kept me from
crying was knowing that enen though we couldn't see you in spirit you were still sitting there with us. I miss the way you
used to act like you were mad but we all knew that you weren't and all we had to do is say "I love you Cory Dale" to get that
priceless smile on your face. It hurts me to see people smiling sometimes, because I think that we should still be sad for
our loss. Then I realize that you would never want us to keep hurting. So I will smile, but only knowing that somewhere you
are smiling with me. I love and miss you. Mrs. Karen and Mr. Freck I would just like thanking you for turning Cory into such
a great person. He was truly a blessing, and he was blessed to have you as parents. He loved you so much, and with great reason.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and even though life keeps going on don't worry your son will never be forgotten. People never
forget miracles. I'm praying for you.
|
August 17th 2003
Cory Dale (A.K.A. My Boy),
There still isn't a day that passes by that I don't cry about what happened. I know
it is supposed to get better with time but sometimes it seems worse. School just isn't, and never will be, the same without
you. There is nobody to laugh at in the halls or at lunch. Who is going to pretend to trip and fall now? I don't have anyone
to come over to my house and just talk with really late at night (actually really early in the morning).
We could talk for hours about anything, it didn't matter because one of us always had something to say. It was always so much
fun with you. Even if we were just sitting around watching TV. I remember how we would listen to the radio and put on
the oldies station and just act like fools. We didn't care who saw or heard we were having fun! Hanging out with you after
graduation (2003) was crazy. I wish I could relive all memories I have with you. The ones I have mentioned
and so many more that I will just keep to myself. They were ,and will always be, the BEST days of my life! I don't think anything
could ever be more special then the time spent with you, Cory. I wish I could be there with you right now!! Until I see you
again I just want to say I LOVE YOU!!!! And I will be with you again one day.
LOVE ALWAYS,  Your Girl |
WHEN YOU FEEL A GENTLE BREEZE CARESS YOU WHEN YOU SIGH
IT'S A HUG SENT FROM HEAVEN FROM A LOVED ONE WAY UP HIGH
IF A SOFT AND TENDER RAINDROP LANDS UPON YOUR NOSE
THEY'VE ADDED A SMALL KISS AS FRAGILE AS A ROSE
IF A SONG YOU HEAR FILLS YOU WITH A FEELING OF SWEET LOVE
IT'S A HUG SENT FROM HEAVEN FROM SOMEONE SPECIAL UP ABOVE
IF YOU AWAKEN IN THE MORNING TO A BLUEBIRD'S CHIRPING SONG
IT'S MUSIC SENT FROM HEAVEN TO CHEER YOU ALL DAY LONG
IF TINY LITTLE SNOWFLAKES LAND UPON YOUR FACE
IT'S A HUG SENT FROM HEAVEN TRIMMED WITH ANGEL LACE
SO KEEP THE JOY IN YOUR HEART IF YOU'RE LONELY DEAR FRIEND
HUGS THAT ARE SENT FROM HEAVEN A BROKEN HEART WILL MEND
8-19-03
Cory, a.k.a. Baby,
We started back to school and its just not the same. It feels so different knowing
that you aren't there or knowing that you aren't going to be at my locker after class. I miss you so much. I think about you
all the time. There isn't a day that goes by and me not think about you . I always tell people some funny stuff you always
did and they always say I would have loved to meet him, he seems like a really good guy and then I start crying because I
miss you and I would love from them to be able to meet you. But I know you are in a great place making other people laugh.
The first day of school I really didn't want to go because I knew somebody was going to say something about you and I would
just start crying. It doesn't seem right its still like a dream. I wish I could just wake up and everything would be ok again.
Everyday at school I would set there and just think when you were going to get me out of class but you never come and that
is what makes it feel so different. Gina misses you so much everybody does. But we were talking the other day and she was
telling me that when she went on her senior trip she was setting on the beach and she knew you were right there and she started
crying and she told me how much she really did love you and how you were a little brother to her. You touched alot of hearts
that I bet you didn't even know about. Everybody loved you Cory and everybody misses you. I feel so bad sometimes for alot
of the stuff that happened between us but nomatter what we always worked it out. Nobody really understands how good of a relationship
we had because they don't really know how we were when it was just us. Some people think they had more then what we had but
I think we had alot and not that many people could beat that. I love you, I always will "Always and Forever" right. That is
how it is nothing can ever get between that. You mean everything to me and I hope you have that big smile on your face because
I know you do. You always had a smile on. At school I think you are still set on the stairs everyday. And I just want to cry
because I can't see you setting there but you are there I know you are. I love you Cory Always and Forever.
Love yours Always,
Baby
8/19/03
Today was the first day-
The first day it was weird-
The first day I didn't call to wake you up-
The first day I didn't call to make sure you were taking me home-
The first day I wasn't ready to go back to school-
Today was the first day-
The first day I was think when you were getting me out of class-
The first day I went to school crying-
The first day I NEVER thought I would see-
The first day I walk in the halls without you-
Today was the first day-
The first day I try to help others stop drugs-
The first day I think why make a bad choice, when there are others that can help you
make a good one-
The first day I really realize what happened-
The first day it hurts and your not really sure why God picked him-
The first day I really realize what EVERYBODY loved is gone-
Today was the first day.
In loving memory always of Cory Dale Otwell. By:Robin
Skains
June 7,2003
Happy Ann. Baby
CORY DALE,
I MISS YOU SOOO MUCH, AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT.
WHEN I GOT THE CALL THAT SATURDAY MORNING IN NEW YORK I WAS TERRIFIED
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW HOW IF FEELS TO LOOSE A FRIEND AND BE THOUSANDS OF MILES
AWAY WHEN IT HAPPENS
I WANTED SO BAD TO TAKE THE FIRST FLIGHT OUT THE NEW YORK AND COME HOME, JUST SO
I COULD WAKE UP
FROM THE DREAM. CORY, WHEN ME AND SARAH AND JOHN AND CHRISTINE WERE WITH YOU THOSE
THREE DAYS, IT WAS
AN AWESOME THREE DAYS. I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU WANTING A PAIR OF BLUE JEANS FROM
NY, AND AFTER I FOUND
OUT, I REALLY WANTED TO BUY YOU A PAIR AND JUST PRAY THAT YOU WERE HOME TO GIVE
THEM TO.
AND THE DAY THAT JOHN HAD THE WRECK AND ME AND YOU MET HIM AT THAT AUTO STORE TO
PICK UP HIS TRUCK, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I WOULD EVER SEE YOU AGAIN. I REMEMBER YOU BUMMING A CIGARETTE OFF OF ME WHEN I
WAS LEAVING TO GO TO SHREVEPORT, AND IF I KNEW THAT WAS THE LAST ONE YOU WERE GOING TO BUM, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU THE WHOLE
PACK. CORY EVERYONE MISSES YOU AND YOU KNOW THAT. IT IS HARD TO GO FROM DAY TO DAY KNOW THAT I CAN'T CALL YOU AND JOHN
AND SEE WHAT YALL ARE DOING, SINCE YALL WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER. WHEN WE GO TO THE GRAVE YARD ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, ITS MAKES
ME FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT WHEN WE COME TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH US AND EVERYONE ELSE.
DURING THE DAY, IM FULL OF THINGS TO TELL YOU AND I TALK TO YOU JUST LIKE YOU ARE RIGHT THERE BESIDE ME, BUT WHEN I GO TO
THE GRAVE YARD, ITS LIKE REALITY KICKS IN AND I KNOW THAT YOU AREN'T HERE, BUT I KNOW YOU HEAR ME AND YOU LISTEN TO
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. CORY, I WISH I KNEW YOU LONGER THAN I DID, I MEET YOU THROUGH DJ AND JOHN, BUT I WISH I KNEW YOU BEFORE
THEN. ID SEEN YOU AT ALL OF THE CHOUDRANT PARTIES, AND I WAS LIKE"WHO IS THAT GUY OVER THERE MAKING A FOOL OF HIMSELF" AND
IT WAS YOU, MAKING EVERYONE LAUGH JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS DID. EVERYONE LOVED YOU AND WE ALL MISS YOU VERY MUCH.WATCH OVER ALL
OF US AND I WILL SEE YOU WHEN I GET THERE.
I LOVE YOU CORY DALE!!!!
HILLERY
Cory,
I miss you so much. It seems like just yesterday you, John, and I were riding in John's
truck going to pick up Robin, or the time we all went bowling in Monroe. We have some great memories together.
Those memories,will always be with me. You can't imagine how many people you have touched.
You were truly a wonderful
person, and very well missed here. I know you
are in a better place watching over me and everyone else. I have
a picture
of you, I will cherish forever. Every time I look at it, I know you are right there beside me. I
can't wait to see you again. I LOVE YOU VERY
MUCH!!!!!
Love Always,
Carmen Crawford
Dear
Mr. Freck, Mrs. Karen, and family,
I am very sorry for the loss of Cory. He was a wonderful boy
and son. I am so happy I was a friend of Cory's. You were wonderful parents to Cory,
and he loved you all so much.
He is missed so much, but he is still right beside us. You all are in my prayers and I love you very much.
love always, Carmen Crawford
08/27
Cory,
Hey baby, I know your sitting up there watching over everybody that loves you,
and many more. I just wanted to tell you that I LOVE YOU very much words can not and could never describe your meaning to
me. I miss you always being around,and making me laugh even when I didnt think my day could have a laugh in it. One thing
that made you so special to me was you accepted everybody for who they were no questions asked. I miss my best friend Robin
calling me Misti go find Cory! Well where is he? She would say on such an such road. Of course I would do anything for
my Robin and Cory I didnt have a drivers license, but I went and we had a huge talk,and Robin called my cell and wanted
to talk to him so they had a few words,but there relationship would not have been the same without some of there crazy fights.
I will never forget the time you came over to my house this summer wanting to know what you should do because you felt like
you were not giving all you had to give to that special someone the best thing I could tell you was to just be yourself
she will love you for that,See Cory I told you. I miss you and your crazy self, but I still have you.I miss everything
about you everything you had to offer I miss that. The last time I saw you this summer was when school was
fixing to start you came over and we talked about everything possible, as you were leaving you gave me the best 2 armed
hug anyone has ever given anybody and said I LOVE YOU BABY what would I do without you. Well your not without me
and im not without you. Your in my heart and will always be there. I carry a picture of you in my car everywhere I go.If you
need me you come see me ok. I LOVE YOU BABY! Much Love and Respect........Misti
To: Mrs.Karen & Mr.Freck
I want you two to know that ya'll raised a fine boy.you could not have asked for
better. He was one of the most kind hearted gentle persons I knew,and he loved yall very much. You all are in my prayers
if you need me let me know God Bless.... Misti
Everyone misses Cory in their own way. And I know that the memories help us get through the
day but I'm not going to lie I would do anything to have Cory back. God took him from us for a reason and that reason
we will never know. I catch myself "wishing" you know "I wish this, and I wish that" I know it won't bring Cory back, but
I do it anyway. I know Cory is here with me but I can't see him and can't touch him and I "WISH" I could. Cory brought alot
of people together and now that he is gone it has torn alot of people apart. Sometimes I don't know how to deal with
it I just want to cry all the time but I know Cory wouldn't want me to. I thank god for letting Cory be a part of my life
and I thank god for all the new people he put in my life through Cory. To the people that didn't know Cory let me tell you
you would have loved him there is noone else in this world like Cory Dale he was one of a kind. I miss seeing Cory standing
in the doorway of the old gym as I pulled up for school he was always there to say something to me and make me late for class
because I had to stop and talk to him. And guess what Cory remember the last thing you said to me at school when you were
standing in those doorways? I do. Well I'm very glad you did that because it has brought me something special and it's all
because of you and I will return the favor someday. I still love you Cory with all my heart, and I always will. I miss you
more than you know hunnee. Save a spot for me right next to you.
I LOVE YOU
ALWAYS,
Kristina
This is what Cory wrote in my senior
memories book:
"whats up girl just wanted to tell you that I look at you like my sister and I love you with all heart and
I will always be here for you love always cory otwell"
Dear Cory,
I saw you at the wedding. There was a candle burning for you. I know you were there although no one saw you.
It was a bittersweet event. I cried in greif and happiness for you and your brothers and your sister They miss
you so much and it is obvious. You were on eveyone's heart and mind. You will never be replaced or forgotten
dear Cory. I wish I could have more time with you. The short life that you lived was happy though.
We have that fact to comfort us. You did enjoy yourself and made all those around you feel good.
I love you everyday,
Aunt Di
Hey Cory Dale ,
Wow! I really miss you alot!! I think about you all the time..
I'm back at CHS now.. I moved back this year... It was weird how I just so happened to b in town the week of your funeral..
It was such a shock to me.. I had a dream about you the night of the veiwing ... I dreamed you told me thanks for being there
for your family in this hard time.. You were such a great friend to me... I'll never forget the times that we spent together...
You hold a very very special place in my heart and I miss you very much... I'll never forget in 6th grade when you kissed
me( my first kiss) in the classroom and then Lyndsi and Kassi wanted to tell on me and get me in trouble.. I just wanted you
to know that I miss you very very very much and I will never forget you.. I thought about you today as I drove by the
site where you hit that tree and I just started cryin... I cant believe this is real.. I wish I wouldnt have left... I was
the last person anyone expected to see there... but I just want you to know that I missed you while I was gone and now I miss
you more than ever.. School isnt the same but hey we are all gonna make it .... We really miss you alot and you were an awesome
friend!!
Love always and forever,
Amber Gail McEntyre
Mrs. KAren and Mr. Freck,
I dont know
if ya'll remember me ( I was the pentacostal).. but I remember ya'll... Just wanted to let ya'll know that yall are in my
prayers and so is the rest of your family.. I want to come visit sometime... And I want yall to know that , in my opinion,
Cory was one of the best friends I ever knew... I love ya'll...
Love,
Amber
09/09
Cory Dale Otwell. What can I say? You are greatly missed. I just
want a hug from you, maybe even a slap or punch. I miss your great big caring heart that you always carried with you. Your
smile. Your laugh. Your tears. I miss you not being her with my baby girl. I know that you're here with me at all times. I
see you a lot and even feel your presence. I look up in the sky and see you standing there on the sun with the blue skys and
the white fluffy clouds. I remember that awful day, like a bad dream that you can't forget. The day before you called me and
said, "Happy Birthday Giner! Be careful and don't have too much fun!" Well, that next morning Amber woke me up and told me
the terrible news. I didn't even say anything to her. Just got up and left to go find Robin. I found her and kidnapped her
from all the craziness. It's still so unreal to me. I just know you are going to call me at 3:30 a.m. to get Robin
up. You are going to come knock on the window at 2:00 a.m. I'm hurting so much for our baby girl, she's getting
better though. My heart goes out to her and it hurts for your family. I can remember the first time I met you, I was a freshmen
at Choudrant, and you came up to me and told me that you knew what was going on between me and Jason. I still to
this day don't know what you were talking about....hehe. Already starting stuff with me :). I miss you doing that. I'm so
glad that you and Robin hooked up. It's a blast having you in our family! I actually wonder how it feels to be the only
male with 4 crazy women. You're like a son to my mom and a brother to Régan and me for the past 2 years. Oh, we
would get on your butt about everything but we would also tell you how sweet you were to do all the wonderful things that
you did for our Baby. I loved it when we would be screaming and aruging about something really stupid, then end up saying
we really do love each other. What about when we would play fight, that was always fun. Thanks for making me tougher. Or when
I would have guy problems and you would always just listen to me and laugh about it behind my back because I ALWAYS had the
same problems. The time I just knew that you are an all around awesome person was when we were out beside "The Bus" in the
woods. Amber, Fe, Dustin, and me got in that big brawl with those dudes and there was all those guys there and none of them
would help us but you. I knew at the point it didn't matter what I was going through or who it was with, that you had
my back and would be there for me. I miss having that warm, safe, secure feeling. But I know we will meet again. I will
get my huge loving hug, see that wonderful smile, hear that loud appreciatative laugh, and feel
those powerful tears from you. I know you're with me. I miss my lil' brother. Baby Boy, I love you with
everything in my heart. I see you Baby Boy just a smiling at me.
Love Your Big Sis,
Gina "Giner Weiner"
09/10
cory babe....
i started back to school a couple of week ago
and its so different with out you. there's no one there to make me laugh like you always did. i wish you could be there when
i need you.... well i know you are but u know what i mean. we have you a seat saved in Mrs. Petches class in that corner
where we all sat ( me, you, kristen, jayme and everitte) its s o hard not being able to hear your voice and walikng thru those
halls not seeing you..but i know ur happy where u are!!!
today's my b-day... i wish u could be here friday to celebrate with me.. more than anything juss to see you that one last
time. ill never be able to tell you how much i love and miss you.. today when we got our yearbooks i juss broke out in tears.....but
know matter where you are you'll always have a place in my heart... i love you so much... but even tho god did take you away
from me.....he did leave me with me with the 3 greatest friends to help me get thru this(martha cassie & kendall..i luv
u guys)... and no matter where were going we lways say a prayer that youll be with us and that wel be safe..we love u and
miss u lot...
jessie lewis..9-10-03
R.I.P baby........*~i love you~*
9/11/03
As I stand
here at school and look
at the stairs you once sat at everyday,
I see you, I see you sitting
there looking around,
I see you laughing,
I see you looking confused,
I see you with a smile on.
But as I look at you I think
is this a dream or am I
waking up from a dream.
I look again an I do see
you, your looking at me,
But your not saying a word.
I ask you "Are you ok"
you just look at me confused and then you say
"I love you Always and Forever,
take care of yourself as
I'll be watching over
you from up above."
Then you aren't sitting
there anymore, your gone,
you left me again,
But as I stand here at school
and look at the stairs you
once sat at everyday
I'm still see you,
feeling your every move as
I know you are still here with me.
I'm still missing you BabyBoy don't you ever forget that!!!
I love you Always and Forever!
Love yours Always,
Robin
Cory,
I miss you more then ever. I think about you all the time. I talk about you all the time too. Its so different at school
with you not there. Everybody is missing you. Paige and I were talking about you today. She put some stuff in my year book
and I almost started crying. It was so sad. I love you Cory. I hope you are still smiling up there. We are trying to smile
down here its just really hard right now but we are going to make it. I went and saw your mom and dad the other day we just
talked for so long about you. That's all we talked about. They miss you so much. You mom is coming to the school tomorrow
to help do a year book page for you. Its going to be really pretty. I hope everything works out good on it. But I love you
baby. Keep watching over us.
Love always,
Robin
09/25
Hey Cory Dale. This is Jules and Paige. We are just sitting here thinking about you and all of the memories you left us
with. You are a great friend to so many. You taught us so much. You are worth all of our tears. the times when we cried tears
of joy when you made us laugh and the tears of sadness the day you left us. Cory Dale you are loved and you are missed. You
will be in our hearts forever and will always have a special place, you will never be forgotten. You touched so many hearts
and changed so many lives. We love you Cory Dale!! We will see you later. Everytime we pass your tree..I honk my horn to let
you know we're thinking about you. School isn't the same anymore, but even though you aren't there physically, I know you
are there with us spiritually, smiling, and just loooking out for everyone like you always had. This isn;t goodbye forever,
all of us will see you again. We love you!
Julie McGovern
Paige Neuton
09/25
Hey little brother. It's Cole's birthday today, but I guess you already know that. I know that in some little way, you'll
wish him a happy one. I wish that you could be at his party, well, I know you'll be there, watching. I have pictures of you
last year in my front yard flipping with him. I know you'll be flipping up in heaven, when you were little that's all you
ever did. That's how you got around, especially after watching power rangers. I swore you needed Ridlin. You would get so
mad when James would tell you that My Little Pony or Carebears could beat up the power rangers. Anyway, Cole's birthday party
is Sunday, and I know you'll be there. I love you so much, and tell Daddy D. I love him, too. Oh, and I guess you can see
how big your nieces are getting. Aren't they gorgeous?
Love, Jamie
SEPTEMBER 26th, 2003
C ory( A.K.A. My Boy),
S ince the first day you were gone,
everyday has seemed so long.
A ll of my smiles have turned to tears,
all of my strengths have turned to fears.
T he things I would do to relive the past,
and make every moment with you last.
I miss you so damn much,
I just want to be able to feel your touch.
T hings will never be the same,
I wish that day never would have came.
M y heart is now broken,
and from you, not a word can be spoken.
W hy do things have to be this way,
why couldn't I have gone and you stayed?
T hings will always be a mystery,
but just remember I will ALWAYS have love for you
inside of me!!
I LOVE YOU, CORY DALE!!!!
Love,
Y our Girl
|
Cory,
hey cuz, how are ya? this is really hard for me to do, this is my first time to come on your website. i just couldn't bring
myself to look at it yet. now that i am finally on it i don't know whether to be happy or sad. i'm happy to see all these
people that write to you and remember you,but i haven't cried this much since the funeral. i try not to think about any of
this because i've never had to deal with death with a person that i was so close to and grew up with. i just wish it didn't
have to be you. i guess i'm still in denial, because the less i think about it, the more i make myself believe that it didn't
happen. That's kind of dumb, but that's the only way that i can handle it, although it's probably no the best. now that you
are gone i've realized not to take life for granted because you never know what God has in store. Remember how my mom used
to babysit us while Jamie and Jason were in school? That was so long ago, and there's no telling what all we got into. I remember
one day when you were really little, you had got into an antbed and just stood there crying, but you wouldn't move! mom just
made me spray you down with the water hose. i also have this really funny picture of one christmas that we were at Mamma D's
and my mom had taken a picture of me and you were in the background picking your nose. enough about all that, i really do
miss you,and i never thought that i would get so upset if someone died, just because i never thought it would actually happen.
i hope everyone learned a lesson, i just wish it didn't have to be through you. I sure am going to miss you at all the holidays
at Mamma D's and all the times you made me laugh when i was upset. i am just glad to know that you are my cousin and i'm lucky
to have been able to spend the time with you that i did. i love you, and one day i'll see you again.
Love,
Ariel Mizell |
|
09/29
Dear Cory,
As usual, I'm sitting here thinking about you, still missing you every minute of the day. Your dad and I are still so lost
without you. We just want you to know we love you so much. We tell you in our prayers every night and hope you hear us. We
always knew in our hearts you were a very special person, but we just didn't realize how much until the accident. You have
the most wonderful friends in the world who also loves you very much and still miss you so much. You also have the most wonderful
family who misses you and loves you very much. Your niece and both nephews miss their Uncle Cory and we talk about you all
the time to them and they talk about you to us. We all try to help them as much as we can, but they, like us, just don't understand
why you had to be the one to go. Alot of your friends come over to see us as much as they can and we really enjoy them and
I think it helps us and them to sit down and talk about you. You had some of the best friends in this world that a person
could have and we love them just like our own children and you know how much we love our children. You are one of them and
our kids have always been our life and you will forever be a part of our life too. You will be in our hearts and with us in
spirit in every thing we ever do. Cole had his birthday party today and you were there with us, not to be seen but felt in
our hearts because we all know how much you love your family as you know how much we love you. Well, I will go for now, but
I will be back in touch with you, because you know you could never get rid of your parents, we were always checking in with
you and I will do so again in a few days. We love you baby boy.
Love Mom and Dad |
10/04
Hey sweetie! I just wanted to tell you that I miss you so much. And I got my stepdad to draw me a tatoo in memory of
you. You should see it Cory you would love it. I went over to Jason's to show him and I wanted to wait and show your mom after
I got it done cause right now it's just on a piece of paper but n-e-way. Well Jason liked it alot so he had to go show your
mom and dad. And you don't even know how good I felt when your mom asked me if I would mind if she and I had the same tatoo.
Even if she doesn't get I was glad she liked it that much. It's so nice I told her she could have the drawing once I got the
tatoo. I sat with your mom and talked to her for like and hour or so. I'm glad I did to because it made me feel better. She
is such a sweet lady I guess that's where you got that from huh? And I was looking at your dad and I watched him smile and
y'all have the same smile it's unbelievable. Oh yeah and don't worry Cory I'm trying I might need a lil help from you though.
Lend me your hand from up above when I need it o.k. And you know exactly what I'm talking about. We need you down here Cory.
Keep letting us know you're ok. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Love Always,
Tina
On June the seventh two thousand and three
I lost a friend who was very close to me
I will
never forget that beautiful smile
Although I know I won't see it for a while
He has gone to heaven to watch over me
To
make sure I'm okay and always will be
He left behind countless family and friends
And toward no one was there a bitter
end
He has a father and a mother too
An older sister and brothers, more than a few
From each one of them he had a
trait
Lets write a list to set it straight:
From his father an awesome smile he received
From his mother such sweetness
and a heart you wouldn't believe
From his only sister Jamie he got love hard to find
I know because I have it, it's
one of a kind
From Jason he resembles that handsome face
There's no one on earth that could take Jason's place
From
Mark he got the down to earth point of view
To find people like that there are but a few
From James he had the ambition
and will
To do anything his heart could fulfill
From Josh the strength to do what was right
Even if it caused him
no pleasure or delight
Now he was more than what you see here
But to write all he was it would take me years
So you
see everyone he had what it took
To stand up in heaven as an angel and look
Making sure everyone goes on day by day
Waiting
for us to join him and watching us pray
I'll never forget the time I had
Even though when I look back it makes
me sad
To the one he gave his hugs and kisses
Robin he still loves you and your love he misses
From me my shoulder
to cry on he was fond
And as for us we had a special bond
A few of the things that he did enjoy
A love of baseball
ever since he was a little boy
But first in line golf, fish stick dinners, and fries
Hanging out with his boys and being
one of the guys
His number was three, and those freckles from head to toe
Those brownish green eyes oh how they did
glow
Tall and slim did he walk and stand
With brown hair on top of his head
His craziness was his greatest quality
He
would purposely trip himself and blame it on me
He was never afraid to be who he was
Just doing what he liked, doing
what he does
I still see places where he once stood
And seeing peoples faces to which he treated good
He also liked
to listen to his brothers play their guitars
And looking up at night and wishing on the stars
When he left he took away
from me
A piece of my heart I will never again see
Everyday that goes by I think of him and grin
I love him so much,
I miss my best friend
We'll stay strong for you baby boy!
You're in my heart and always will be.
I LOVE YOU
Kristina
Privitor
10/09
hey sweetie....
i was juss sittin here lokking at your pic thinking of you.. i miss you so much. school has changed
so much since youve been gone. i still wanna pick up the phone and call you or save u a seat in class. i havent yet accepted
all this.. i really miss you. i look at pics and remember all the great times we all had...(me you jamie kendall margret martha
and cassie) even tho we were only best friends for three years, i would not change those years for anything in this world.
if i could give up anything in this world to have you back here or just hug you or hear your voice that one last time and
tell you how much i love you i would...i know ur happy and youll always be with us no matter what. i just ask you to watch
over us and be with us wherever we are ans whatever we are doing. ok baby.... i miss you and love you so much.. youll always
be my boy..... keep it real up there!!!! R I P!!!!!!!
love always
jessie lewis!!!!!!!
hey sweetie. i was just sitting here looking at your pictures and i thought
i'd let you know how much i miss you, even though you already know that. i would give anything for you to be here with
me right now. i've been out at jason's a lot lately and i've been talking to your parents, too. i love going out
there. i feel so much closer to you when i'm there. i still think about you all the time. i know you're
up there keeping us safe and please just keep on watching over us. i love you.
love, sarah
to mrs. karen and freck,
thank yall so much for always being there for me and the rest of us. i try
to be there for yall just like yall are for me. it's been so nice being able to come over as much as i have and i love
sitting around talking to yall and hearing all the wonderful things about cory. yall are in my prayers along with the
rest of your family. i love yall.
love always, sarah
10/11
Cory Otwell was an amazing person. With a half grin he could light up an entire room. With a joke he could he could turn
tears to laughter. Corys death is very hard to accept for all who knew and loved him. None of us will ever understand why
this amazing person is no longer here. But there are things that I have learned from his death. I have learned that sober
drivers are always necessary. I have learned to tell loved ones I love you as often as possible. Even when I am in a rush
I stop to say those three important words. I have learned to never go to bed mad. I have learned to embrace each moment just
as Cory did. Though Cory is not with us we all need to strive to live as he did. When someone is taken its the little things
that you miss. The talks, the laughter, even the tears. Cory was a unique person who will never be replaced. But we can all
embrace the little things about those we love. I wrote this to let Corys family know that others are learning from their loss.
I wish everyday that we didnt have to learn these lessons because Cory is not here. To Corys family I love you all. I cant
imagine how you feel. There are no words to describe your loss. I pray for you all every day. Mrs. Karen and Mr. Freck your
little boy will never be forgotten and will be forever missed. Yall are such a strong family. Always lean on each other.
10/16
Cory,
This is your homeboy Sontus and I was just wishing that you were still here chilling with me, making me laugh, and having
a good time. It crushed my soul when I heard the tragedy that happened that Saturday morning. But I will always remember the
friendship we had. Even though you are not here I know you are watching over me. Much love from your homeboy, SONTUS.
11/3/03
Hey Baby,
I miss you more then ever. I think about you non-stop you can't even imagine.
My birthday is tomorrow and it's not going to be the same without you. You always did something crazy for my b-day or you
always gave me a surprise i could never forget. I love you cory dale. You will always be with me i know you will. Charlie
got really hurt this past weekend and gina just didn't know what to do. I thought about the day John called me i didn't know
what to do then either. But i tried to help her i did all i can do. Your mom gave a really good speech about you the other
day i cried for so long. I miss you more then ever every day. Its like each day i miss you more and more. I know you are watching
over me and everyone else. I'm glad i have that feeling that somebody is always watching over me because i know you are
and because i know you are my guardian angel. Its going to be so different tomorrow when you aren't here in person
for my birthday. You were always the one who made me smile, laugh and had a good birthday. But i know you are going to
be here, even if i can't see you. I know you still love me. But i hope you are doing great up there. Take care of us down
here. I love you BaBy Always and Forever. I know you saw that new picture of us that i put at your grave. You mom and dad
and i love that picture of us. Its our favorite. Your grandmother asked me to come and eat with your family again for Thanksgiving.
She told me that i was still apart of the family and that she missed seeing me. I started crying. B/c it was so sweet. But
i have to go but not forever. I love you BaBy Boy. I'm still here for you always.
I love you always and forever,
Robin
11/04
CORY DALE,
I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT YOU,
AND WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I MISS YOU. IT IS STILL HARD FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL NEVER MAKE ME LAUGH AGAIN, BUT
THAT IS SELFISH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN A BETTER A PLACE. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CHANGED AND MADE
HAPPIER...BECAUSE IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. YOUR MOM AND DAD ARE SO STRONG AND DOING SO GOOD CONSIDERING HOW MUCH HEARTACHE
THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. YOU'D BE SO PROUD OF THEM . YOUR MOM MADE SUCH A GREAT SPEECH. I REALLY THINK SHE REACHED A
LOT OF PEOPLE. SEE YOU HAVE PASSED ON AND STILL CHANGING THINGS FOR THE BETTER. I WILL LET YOU GET BACK
TO WATCHING OVER EVERYONE. SEE YOU WHEN ITS TIME. I LOVE AND MISS YOU FOREVER.
ASHLEY GULLATT
November 7th, 2003
Cory (A.K.A. My Boy),
Hey Baby! It has been 5 months since you went away and things are still very hard
for everyone to deal with. I wish we could all go back in time and make things all better again, but that isn't possible.
We all have to figure out our own ways to deal. I hope I figure out a way soon because it seems impossible to do. I just want
to break down and cry all the time. Ever since you have been gone it is like everything bad has to happen to me. I don't have
you to talk to about my problems anymore. You were the only guy that I have actually ever trusted. I mean you knew EVERYTHING
possible about me. Most people try to make me out as a bad person but you knew better. You didn't care what other people said
about me you hung out with me anyway. No one in this world could ever compare to you Cory. You were the most amazing person.
You were handsome, sweet, caring, funny, crazy, and you weren't one to talk bad about anyone. Everyone could learn something
from you. Whenever I don't think I can accomplish something I think of you and I think I can do anything. You are my inspiration.
Since I can't be with you now everything I do is for you. Life is so precious and it took losing you to finally realize that.
My birthday is in like 2 weeks. I really wish you could be here to celebrate it with me. I know you will be with me even though
I won't be able to see your smiling face. I am probably going to go visit your grave on my birthday because it will just make
me remember all the fun things we used to do and bring a smile to my face. That is all I really want is to finally smile and
be able to accept the fact that you are no longer here. It just seems like, to me, that you moved far away and I haven't talked
to you in a long time. Why does it have to be so hard to face reality??? Well I LOVE YOU and I know you want the best for
all of us. We appreciate all the things you have done. You will be on our minds forever!!! Just remember we will all be with
you again one day! Until we meet again, I will be missing you!!!!
LOVE ALWAYS,
Your Girl
11/08
Hey Cory,
It's your sister again. I get really depressed when you haven't been wrote in a while,
I feel like people forget, but I know that's not possible. You were the greatest person ever. Being a single mom for a long
time, I could call you anytime for anything, whether it be taking garbage off, or moving something heavy, or watching the
kids, or just because I was bored. Now I feel like I can't even get out of the house. I always felt like you were my baby
because I was 7 when you were born, and I guess that what 7 year old girls feel like, but now I don't even want my kids to
leave the house. Doesn't that sound crazy. I feel like it's the only safety I can offer me and them. I go to work and come
home, and that's it. Anyway, I miss you so much. It seems like, even after months, each day gets harder. It's like I'm finally
realizing, and it's never gonna stop hurting. Every day gets worse. I know you're in a better place, and one day I'll be there,
maybe I'm selfish, but that seems like too long from know. I want to see you know, and talk to you. You came to me once in
my dreams, please come again. I miss that freckle face boy with a lisp. I love you so much.
love
forever,
jamie
|
11/08
Hey Babe, I miss you so much and i think about you everyday. I'm so thankful that I got to spend your last three days here
on earth with us with you. Me and Sarah talk about you just about everyday and how much we miss you. We went and saw you yesterday
before i had to go to practice and she had to go to work. We just wish this were a dream, but you have blessed me in the best
way that anyone ever could, and that is bringing your brother into my life. We both are thankful for that and we miss your
terribly. I told Sarah that i would go through and would still be going through the pain and hurt if it would just bring u
back to her. We cherish all the memories we made those last few nights and we share all of them with your mom and dad... it's
like we have a big story time of Cory Dale, when actually it's you we always talk about and act out. I love going to your
parents house and to Jason's because i feel closer to you and i hope everyday that you will give us another sign that u are
there with us... I know u are and u always will be. We will always keep you close to our hearts and we love you more than
you will ever know. Keep watching over us and don't tie those cleats until i get up there and we can tie ours together and
take our daily walk... I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!
Love,
Christine Cacciola |
Hey Baby Boy,
Your dad & I have been missing you terribly this week as usual. Deer hunting
is not the same without you. Always before when you heard one of us shoot, you would come to see what we killed.
I sat in my stand and cried yesterday because you didn't come to my stand when I killed my deer. It is just not the
same without you and will never be. We miss you so much. We just wish we could touch that beautiful face one more
time or just hug your neck one more time and tell you how much we love you and will always love you. We bought a 4 wheel
drive in honor of you because you loved to mudhog. We had a special license plate ordered for you. Guess
what it is? CDO163, for Cory Dale Otwell, 16 years old, your baseball #3, just for you. On the front we are
going to have a license plate that says Corys truck. We love you baby and miss you so much. Everything we do,
we do it in memory of you. Your family misses you so much too, as do your friends. You were so loved
by everyone. It is still so hard to accept the fact that you will never come back to us and we will never see that beautiful
smile again. Your dad and Granny had a dream about you the other night and dad said it was so real, he
woke me up crying. I wish I could dream about you, but if I don't, all I have to do is close my eyes and I can
see your beautiful face smiling at me. I'm like Jamie, I think it's getting harder instead of easier.
She is having a hard time dealing with it, because she practically raised you while we were at work.
We had a picture painted of you that is gorgeous as you were. I bet your head is swelling up in heaven with every one
talking about how beautiful of a person you were, inside and out. It has a right to swell, you are a wonderful person.
I gave a speech at your school in memory of you last Thursday, the only speech I have ever given. Other than laying
you to rest, I think it was probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but I was determined to do it for you, our family
and friends. It helps me if I think it would be something you would want me to do and I know you would want me
to help other people. Well, I will go, your dad wants to write something, but just remember, we love and miss you
so much and think about you constantly. We love you and miss you so much baby boy.
Love mom and dad
11/12
Im so very sorry bout your beloved son Cory D. Otwell. though i didnt know him that well every time i saw him he was smiling
& laughing, you would never see a frown on him. He was joking, wrestling around & just living life to the fullest(as
it seemed). I've seen so many people cry & pray he were still here, i even cried & i dont cry that much at all. I'm
not sure exactly what to say except "Cory i know we miss you alot & wish you were still here, but your gone now &
we can only learn & become a stronger person from the lesson that we have learned from you." I'll say what every one
else has said , i still dont see why it was Cory, but i was always told everything is done for a reason .
11/16
Hey Cory, I just wanna say that we miss you so much here, everyday you will hear some one say " you remember when me &
Cory did this..." or " I miss Cory so much I wish he were still here" its really hard for all of us cope with the fact that
they we will not see you for a very long time. Teachers talk bout you all the time, every friday C.Baker talks bout you before
we leave class. Its just really sad & heartbreaking to many of your friends to know that you never will be at the school
functions. I also know its extremely hard for your mother & father to go on with their lives, but I know they only get
stronger day by day knowing that others are learning not to drink & drive. You didnt know me (you probably saw me in the
halls) & i really didnt know you either but im jus saying that just about everybody misses you so i hope to see you one
day.
11/19
Cory,
I can't believe that your gone... you ment alot to me and you know that. I'm sorry that it took me so long to
write you a letter on here.. This isn't the first time that i've been to your web page, , i just never knew what to write...I'm
so glad that me & you were as close as we were in our own special way!! Thanks alot for all the good times that we had
together...it was a blast!!! I will never forget you or your beautiful smiling face, you always made me happy no matter what
kind of day I was having. Thanks for those long serious talk that we ALWAYS had...they helped me alot! I'm sorry that you
had to go the way you did....... I will never forget you Cory Dale I promise.... Rest In Peace Baby Boy I Love You !!!!!!
Love,
~CASSIE
MORGAN~
11/19
Hey Cory Dale, I've been thinking about you a lot, I'm sure u already know that , but we all miss you so much and so many
things remind us of you. The sky is the best one yet. Everything about, it's beautiful and when i look up i'm say, "whats
up babydoll." Jason called me the other day when he was at work and said, "look to the west at the sky.... isn't it amazing?"
We both were amazed by how beautiful it was. Jason took like 17 pictures of it. I was thinking of you when i was looking up
at the sunset, just remember i'm always thinking about you and i miss you so so much. Take care up there and keep watchin
over the crazy clan... I Love You Always!!
Love,
Christine Cacciola
|
hey sweetie. i just want to say thank you for all you did for all of us when you were here. and thank you for all you're
doing for us up there. i know you're there watching over us and taking care of us just the way you did when you were here.
i still think about you constantly and miss you all the time. me and fluff had a long talk a while ago about you and he told
me that the pain would never go away but eventually it would just get easier to bear. my heart will always hurt because you
aren't here and it really hasn't got a whole lot easier yet, although this is the one of the few times that i've been on here
without crying.you have one of the nicest and strongest families i've ever met and no one can even begin to describe how much
they miss you, and me too. everyone around here does. your mom told me this websitewas the number 1 tripod webiste in the
nation or something. pretty cool huh? allright well i just wanted to say thank you for everything. keep taking care of me,
please and helping me with all this crap i'm going through right now. you know what i'm talking about. love you, cory
love always,
sarah |
11/27
Hey son, your dad and I just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and tell you we really missed you today. We cried
all morning just knowing you weren't going to be with us today. We stopped by your grave today and wished you a Happy Thanksgiving
and I bought you a little Thanksgiving and Christmas trinket so you would have something for the Holidays and your dad and
I left them on your grave. You were on everyone's minds today and I just wish I could tell you face to face how much we love
and miss you. Well, I am going to bed now, I just want you to know Cory, we love you so, so, very much and Happy Thanksgiving
baby.
Love you forever and ever
Mom and Dad
12/01
Mr. and Mrs. Otwell, I know you do not know me but I knew Cory pretty well. I met him in the 7th grade when he went out
with my best friend Holly Bond. From then on out we were friends. He was there for me when the world got me down he cheered
me up when I had a frown. I used to call him "Bubby" because he was like my big brother. He always told me I was his "lil
sis". He still means as much to me as he did then and I know that he always will. I wanted to write to say that you and your
family is in my prayers and if you ever need anything I will be more than happy to help. God Bless! Cory's lil sis, Jamie
Schenck
12/02
juss wanted to tell yuo i've been praying for you all... it's hard here without him. iwas gonna call ro come over on thanksgivining
but i didnt think yall would feel like it.
i dont know what to say. i really wish i coild cme over there or call, but
i juss dont know if i can do it. but maybe that's what i need to do. i wish i could do something or say something to help,
but all i can do is say is im sorry. and that cory was the greatest friend i ever had. ............ god bless you all love
always jessie lewis
12/02
|
i was juss listeninf to a song earlier and it made me think of you.. si i thought id dedicate that song to you " i'll be
missing you" because ill always miss you. even tho i havent yet acceoted this all and it will take me some time because i
never expected to my best friend.. i dont understand why god took you away? bu t i guess he has his reasons. i know you are
happy baby boy. bit i still dont you to be gone. the other day i had a dream you came back and the fiiiirst thing you said
was where's jessie and you hugged me andi sed you'll always be my best friend. you sed ilove you always and forever and youll
always be my best friend. it seemed so real. it juss broke my heart when i woke up and realized it wasnt..... but your still
my best friend. imiss you corydale(baby boy)(money mike) i loev you so so much i hope ytto see uin heaven soon.. bye sweetie
r.i.p!!!! o yea im gettin a tatoo of a cross that has you r name on it for christmas. peace... i love u love jessie lewis |
12/15
CORY, I WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE ACTING A FOOL WITH ME. ANYWAY, I LOVE YOU, MISS YOU AND THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY MINUTE OF
THE DAY. WATCH OVER US LITTLE BROTHER. LOVE U FOREVER.
YOUR BRO
JASON
12/17
Hey Cory Dale. I know that I havent written you yet, but I know that I have missed you so much. You could brighten everyones
day no matter what. I remember the fun times when you came over to Dj's and John's. Don't worry about John we're taking care
of him and making sure he stays out of trouble.haha(it's tough but we do it) We all went dog hunting this last weekend with
Mr.Freck and Mrs. Karen and James and John and me and DJ. We had so much fun. It was cold, but we all had a good time.Your
parents are so sweet and thoughtful and I can tell that they miss you so much. James killed a deer for you with your gun.
She was pretty big too. We sure did wish that you could be there with all of us. But I just wanted to let you know that DJ
and I miss you so very much. WE LOVE YOU!!!
love always,
Paige and DJ
|
12/18/03
Hey Baby,
I miss you so much still. You would think maybe it would get a little better but it doesn't it just gets harder. I hate
how my phone will ring and its not you or somebody is at my door and its not you. I always get my hopes up everytime I think
it is you. I wish it was so bad you can't even image. I love you Cory. I saw your family yesterday. I just love your mom and
dad. It's so funny how i call them mom and dad and they answer to it. My mom and Regan are helping you mom put a book together
of you for your brothers and Jamie and Me. I'm so ready to have it. Its going to look really good i think.When your mom showed
me the picture of you tombstone i couldn't say anything and that was just on some paper. But when i saw it at your grave i
just fell i couldn't say or move anything. I loved it so much. I don't think it could look any better. I really need you right
now. I'm getting to that point where i just don't want to believe that you are gone. I don't want to face the fact. Its just
so hard. I miss you so much. It's still just so weird at school. I look at all the cute couples and think about me and you
and how we looked at school. Because i know we were the cutest couple. Remeber all the people that told us that. I miss that
so much. I miss not being able to hold you or you hold me. When i was at your house last night i stayed in your room for so
long. I just sat there, and i thought about everything that happened between us.Your mom still tells everybody and me that
i'm still your girl, Because that is how it was and still is. Yeah you might have had those friends but i was your girl she
says. Everytime i see her that is the first thing she tells me. Me and some of your friends were talking the other day and
they told me that i was all you talked about. And it made me feel so good because i used to here that all the time that you
always talked about me but nobody has told me that in a while and it just made me realize how much i really do miss you and
love you. I write to you all the time i just don't let anybody see what i write because you know what it says. I keep it to
myself. I really need you right now more than anything.Somebody today asked me if i was engaged because i always wear the
promise ring that you gave me. I never leave without it. There are so many people that ask me where i got that ring from and
i still tell them my boyfriend gave it to me. And that you mean everthing to me. Charlie got Gina a ring for Christmas and
i had to help him pick it out. It is so pretty. Charlie told me when we were going to get it that Gina means everything to
him and i thought about how you always told me that i was everthing to you. Its just those little things that remind me of
you so bad. I really am starting to think that you are right beside me all the time. There is so many things i want to talk
to you about face to face but i can't and that is what i hate to realize. But I love you cory more than anything or more then
anybody can image. I found those cards you gave me for my birthday it was so sweet,. You told me how much you loved me and
how much i was you everything. I just cried and cried. There wasn't really anything i could do. But I love you Cory. Please
keep me close because i know you do. And help people realize that this wasn't a game. I hate how people play childish games
when they know they shouldn't. But i need you more than anybody right now well i always do. I love you always and Forever.
You always told me not to forget that you will always love me and it was forever. But I love you BabyBoy.
I love you always and forever!!
Love Always,
Robin |
12/19
I know it has been a while since I have written you. Please don't be mad. I moved to West Monroe and I don't have a computer
there so it's kind of hard for me to write. I came to visit you the other day. I love the stone it's beautiful. I really wish
I had your sholder to cry on this time. I haven't been doing to well with all the new things and old things in my life. But
I try to keep a smile on and make everything better. I just wonder when is it and will it ever get better. Sometimes I think
I'm loosing faith and hope. And I don't want that to happen. I miss you so much I wish I could call you just to hear you say
"hey". You always made me feel better. I just don't know anymore Cory I don't know what to do. Well I promise you that I will
write you whenever I get the chance. I love you sweetheart!!!!
Kristina
12/19
Hey Cory Dale,
It's your sister bugging again. I know that you see your neices and nephews
growing up from above, but I wish you were here watching them and laughing at them with us. It's just not the same. Every
time Briley or Emily does something new, I just picture you laughing at them. Briley is crawling and pulling up now, it's
so funny. I just know that you're laughing at her up there. Emily looks just like Josh, I know you're laughing about that,
too! They won't ever know you, I'll make sure they knew what a wonderful person you were. You were always putting everybody
else first and yourself last. Cole will most definitely remember you, Ethan, vaguely. Cole wants to go to your grave tomorrow,
he's got a surprise for you. He's been begging me all week, but it's been dark by the time I get home. It wasn't too long
ago that you babysat them while I worked one Saturday. I come home and my house was trashed, I was so mad. Now, if you were
still here, I'd let you babysit and trash my house everyday. Well, I love you every second of the day, always have, always
will.
I love you Cory Dale,
Love Jamie
12/20
HEY CORY,
I MISS YOU SO MUCH! ME AND SOME FRIENDS (ROBIN, ASHLEY
G. KEATON, NICOLE, MEGAN, BUTT, EARL,BRANDON G, MRS. TOME, MEGAN'S MOM, YOUR MOM, AND THERE WERE SOME OTHER GIRLS THAT I DIDNT
KNOW) WENT TO YOUR GRAVE YESTERDAY AND LET BALLOONS GO FOR CHRISTMAS FOR YOU. IT WAS REALLY SAD. I HAD EVERYTHING TOGETHER
AND I WAS OK UNTIL YOUR MOM HUGGED ME. I JUST LOST IT. ROBIN HUGGED ME AND STARTED CRING AGAIN. I JUST MISS YOU SO MUCH JUST
LIKE EVERYONE. IT IS SO HARD NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT HERE WITH US ALL. I REMEMBER HOW YOU WOULD COME UP TO ME AND ROBIN WHEN
WE WOULD BE TALKIN AND JUST FALL OR SOMETHING JUST MAKE US LAUGH. I MISS THAT SO MUCH. WELL, IM BOUT TO GO I LOVE YOU AND
I MISS YOU SO MUCH. WATCH OVER US AND KEEP US SAFE. TILL I SEE YOU AGAIN.
YOUR FRIEND,
KIMBERLY TONEY
12/24
Hey Baby Boy. I've been missing you a lot here lately. I think about you all the time and wonder what you're doing. I'll
have dreams about you and see your beautiful face. I remember the last time I saw you and if I would have known it was the
last, I wouldn't have blinked my eyes. If had known it was our last time together....., I just don't know what I would do.
I'm not going to lose any feelings inside. I hold all the memories of you so close. I wonder quite often why innocent people
have to pay. Why God was not giving you enough time to spend here with your family and friends? Yes, I am angry right now,
my eyes fill with tears and my heart fills with pain. I hear you call my name at times and I'll turn around only to see that
you aren't there. You meant so much to all of us. And so very special to each person you befriended. I think about your smile
and it warms my heart and your laugh is music to my ear. I hope and pray that you will come back. I will never forget your
love that you shared with so many of us. I love you so much and it makes me sad that I can't hear it back. I look at the good
and bad memories and laugh at them. I know I can say that you have made a great impact on my life. I miss you Cory. I know
we will meet once again in a much happier place than this world can be. I love you Baby Boy.
Love,
Gina
12-24-03
Hey Bubby!
This is everyone's first Christmas without you and believe me when I say it's hard. Today
me and Thomas brought a card and some cookies to your Mom and dad. I finally got to meet them along with your aunt Debbie.
They seem to be very nice people and I am glad to have met them. It was so weird being in your house for the first time without
you there. There were so many pictures of you, it was hard to believe that you are gone. I miss you so much and I try to keep
my head up like I know you would want me to but its hard because I miss you. I wanted to knock on your door to find you but
instead found your family. I am going to keep in touch with them, I feel it brings me closer to you. I love you alwayz.
"
Your lil sis "
jamie schenck
12/25
Merry Christmas baby
We just wanted you to know we are missing you very much this Christmas and very sad because you are not here in person
with us. We have talked about you and thought about you constantly. It is just not the same without you and never again will
be. We miss you so much Cory and it's very hard on all of us during the holidays or any other time. Last year on Christmas
eve we gave you your first truck for a Christmas present. Remember? It was so hard buying presents for everyone this year
and not buying you any presents. It tore us up because none of the presents had your name on it. It hurts like hell seeing
all the presents under our tree and not a single one had your name on it. It just absolutely tears my heart out knowing we
will be spending the holidays without you. We miss you and love you so much each and every day. I know you are our Angel now
and watching over us but I still wish I could see you and give you a big hug and wish you a Merry Christmas in person. I miss
that. I miss watching your face light up when you opened your presents. I miss you saying " Mom, Dad, just let me open one
present early, please. You did that every year and we would always give in and let you. I wish you were here to do that again.
You could open all of them if you were just here with us. Your Dad and I went to your grave today and stayed for a while and
cried the whole time. Jamie and Hunter showed up and we all cried again. Your Dad and I also bought you a little something
for Christmas and put on your headstone. We were not going all Christmas without buying something for you, you know that.
We will continue to do that every year until we are gone. Well, we are going for now, we just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas
and tell you how much we love you and how much we missed you this year. Our Holidays will never be complete again without
you but we know you are with us in spirit, we just wish we could hug you and tell you in person Merry Christmas and know how
much we love you sweet boy. Dad and I will be back in touch soon. We love you baby.
Mom and Dad
12/27
i miss u
December 27, 2003
lil' brother,
What up pimpin? Lil' bro, damn do i miss you. This is my first time to actually write on this webpage, so bare with me
brother. I sent you a paragraph to your email but some how it ended up here. Anyway, i miss you so much. It's completely different
around here without you. I'm sorry i haven't written you yet, but it has been so hard. The family is doing better or as good
as possible. I'm still keeping a tight watch on moms & pops. As a matter of fact i'm living with them for the time being.
It's cool though, but i think i'm starting to get on there nerves a little. HA! HA! You & I were always good at that.
I love staying here though because i feel so close to you. It's really comfortable. At any rate, I start school jan. 12 .
Needless to say i'm extremely stoked about that. I'm going to study computer technology & programming. I'm going to stick
to school this time. No more playing around. I'm going to do it. So watch over me like a hawk & also check in with me
periodically to help me pass the hard test that are still to come. You know what lil' bro, we have got the greatest parents
anyone could ever ask for. They have been here for us, just as much as we have been there for them. Help us live the rest
of our lives to the fullest & watch over us every step of the way. Thank you for giving me Christine, she has really lifted
me up onto a different level. We get along so great, sometimes it doesn't seem real. We talk about you all the time but you
know that brother. Thank you!!! Brother,i honestly didn't think i would make it through this but somehow i pulled through
with the support of our great family and friends. By far the hardest thing i will ever do. EVER. Anyway, the night we had
the candlelight service by the tree, as much as i hated it, it was absolutely beautiful! Wow, you've got alot of friends &
alot of ladies. (you go brother) I see i taught you well. HA! HA! Yeah anyway, you have changed my life in so many different
ways, now it's like everything has meaning & value to it. When i play music it has so much more life & structure to
it. My voice is getting better, i feel alot smarter & alot more motivated. I feel you have turned everything around and
opened my eyes, but their is still a big empty space in my heart that no one could ever fill. ( i'm shaking so bad right now)
You & I have been through alot of awesome times & seen some crazy stuff in our life. Nothing will ever compare to
those 17 great years we spent together. NOTHING! I regret alot of things i've done in my life brother, especially
the night me, dumas, impson & alot more people were all going to the club in monroe, & you wanted to go & use
my ID to get in. At first i was going to let you but when it came down to it, i backed out of it because i didn't want you
to get in trouble, so i told you no. We got in a little argument, nothing serious. I just want to let you know that it was
because i care about you & wanted to protect you from any kind of danger, also to keep you out of trouble. I love you
so much Cory, i just wish i could see you again & give my little brother some love.(some dap) Cory the pain i felt that
saturday when i found out is a pain that no human being should ever feel. I think God might have trouble explaining that pain
to someone. I'll tell you what, moms & pops did an excellent job on getting a headstone. Wow, it is an exquisite one.
At any rate, me & cornchip (bowers) have been kicking it alot here lately. Holding it down for you. We will occasionally
rip (tear) the club up. You know how we do it!!! I think i finally got the c-walk down. Cornchip & I have been living
together for about 3 or 4 months now. We are trying to find us a new place right now. That's why i'm with moms & pops.
Fo sho.. Well, my truck has been out of commission for sometime now, which sucks really bad, I still haven't figured out how
i'm going to get to school everyday. Maybe you can help me. LOL. Impson
still lives in Texas but he is in for x-mas. You know what lil' bro, i showed you the timberlake move (justified) i taught
you that & you took over it. It's like your signature move. Hey i'm not mad though. JUSTIFIED Everybody misses you a lot.
We think about you 24/7. Your accident has made me think differently, pay attention to everything i possibly can at the same
time. My outlook on everything is so distinctive & different. I hate the fact that i had to lose my closest brother to
make me wake up & realize that the world is bigger than Choudrant, La. I've learn alot in the last 6 month of my life.
(Third eye-tool) You must think for yourself & question authority. Think for yourself & question authority.. Throughout
human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are
going in this ocean of chaos, it has been the authorities, the political, the religious, the educational authorities who attempted
to comfort us by giving us order, rules, regulations, informing, forming in our minds their view of reality. To think for
yourself you must question authority & learn how to put yourself in a state of vulnerable, open-mindedness, chaotic, confused,
vulnerability to inform yourself. Think for yourself & question authority. I've learn to question everything i do.
What is right & what is wrong. Cory i love you from the bottom of my heart & always will. Mad love until the end!!!
Please watch over me, moms & pops, cornchip, & the whole family & all the friends. You should see josh & jessas'
little girl emily, she looks just like josh. ( believe it or not though she is so cute) No piercings or tattoos yet. I don't
think. lol. James is married & running a successful business. Jamie & hunter are still together & the kids just
had a huge x-mas. SPOILED. Ethan reminds me so much of you when you were that age. Cole & ethan always talk about you.
They miss their uncle cory. Ethan always tries to get me to come over and stay the night with him. My best friend katie misses
you, watch over her too. She has really been there for me & helped me in many of ways. I love my katie. She still has
that beautiful smile & that benevolent agenda. Francis is still the same old francis. (poo bear) Nicole is in for x-mas
from the army. She leaves in a few days going to germany. I think she is stoked about that. Regina & Robin stop in occasionally
and say how you doin? I really enjoy their company. I always need a little gina & robin in my life. They're so fun to
be around. Well lil' brother i've got to get some sleep. Tell biggie & pac & Marilyn monroe that jason said what up!!
God send me an angel from the heavens above. Watch over us lil' brother. I love you & miss you dearly. HOW I WISH, HOW
I WISH YOU WERE HERE, WE'RE JUST TWO LOST SOULS SWIMMING IN A FISH BOWL, YEAR AFTER YEAR, RUNNING OVER THE SAME OLD GROUND,
WHAT HAVE WE FOUND, THE SAME OLD FEARS, WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!!!!
To anyone who knew cory & knows the pain & suffering that took place over my little brothers death. It can be prevented
so easy. Do not drink & drive!!! It is time to grow up!
WAKE UP & OPEN YOUR EYES!!!
LOVE ALWAYS & UNCONDITIONALLY
JASON MCBEE
(BIG BRO)
P.S. dude, i give you mad props on Sarah! She's hot and
fun to party with.
12/27
hey there sweetie. i haven't written in a while and i'm sorry. during the days, i can think of so much stuff to say but
when i get on here, i just lose it and i can't think straight. well, everyone just had their first christmas without you cory.
thursday afternoon (christmas day) i went to see your parents and take them their present. they always tell me how fun it
would be if me and you could've been together with jason and christine dating now. how it would be such a "trip" as your dad
said. one night when i was there, cole was there, and i swear when i looked in his eyes, i saw you. he's the cutest thing.
i wish you could have been here with me for christmas and thanksgiving. my family would love you just like everyone else does.
cory, i learned more in those 3 days i was with you than i could ever explain. you taught me a lot and changed the way i see
things. life is a gift and i think we have been taking it for granted for too long. there are so many things that we need
to appreciate more than we do and that we need to be more thankful for. i will never understand why God took you away from
here, away from me, away your family, and away from your friends. but i do know that i have another angel here with me to
protect me and watch over me. give odie and my grandpa a kiss for me. take care of us, love.
love you always, sarah
12/27
cory dad dosen't have a lot to say it's all been said. I just want you to know that I MISS YOU so much and I LOVE
YOU always have and always will. DAD
12/29
Hey Baby,
I'm still missing you more and more everyday. People talk about you all the time. And I miss how you aren't here to make
everybody smile. Everybody loved your smile. I know I did especially. It was so different without you on Christmas. I went
to your mom and dads house for Christmas. Just to say hey and to see everybody and to give them something I got for you and
them. I felt so weird and it just wasn't right without you there. Your mom and dad were so upset I wish I could just take
there pain away, and from your brothers and Jamie too. I come to see you alot. I miss you so much Cory. Your mom and I have
been talking a lot more then we have been but every time I do talk to her I still get so upset and I just get more and more
stuff on my mind and I just can't say what I want to say all I can do is feel what I'm thinking. When I went to your house
for Christmas everybody was there but Jamie and the kids. I really wanted to see the kids. And see how they are doing. I here
Cole still looks like you and little Ethan is as cute as he can be. Jason and Christine were there. Jason looks so happy.
They look really good together. Your mom tells me that Sarah wants to meet me. The girl you were with that night. I can understand
why she would like to meet me but I have to get to the point where I want to meet her but your mom tells me she wants to know
the Cory that I knew and to hear some stories about us or just you I don't know. And I'm sure you would like for me to tell
her but I just don't think I can do that right now. I'm not sure I ever will. But I would love for her to know the you that
I knew for 2 years. There are so many great stories about us. Gina and I were talking about it some on Christmas. You were
so crazy. Your mom gave me a book of you from where you were just a baby all the way up to when me and you were dating. I
will never let that book go. It means everything to me. It makes me feel like your even closer to me. Your mom and I were
talking one day and I was really upset and we just started talking about me and you and how she thought we had one of the
best relationships and that I made you so happy but when we would take some time you were so sad. You didn't want to do anything.
Your dad told me that you would just walk around the house sad and wouldn't really talk to anybody, and he would ask you what
is wrong and you would say me and robin are taking some time but we are going to get back together. And your dad and mom both
knew that was true we would always get back together. Your mom told him the other day that we were going to get back together
everybody knew that we were we just haven't yet. But I'm so glad that early that night we talked and I will never forget what
we talked about. I just wish I would have asked you to come over and talk about it some more. I really do think if we could
have talked a little more everything would be ok and everything would be like it was. But I'm about to go and see you and
talk to you some more. I love you Cory always and forever that was are saying we never left without saying it. I see
you some day but till them watch over me and take care of all of us. I still miss you babyboy more then ever. I love you always
and forever!!!!
Love yours always,
Robin
12/29
hey little brother.happy holidays.this is your brother josh man and im tellin you that xmas just wasnt the same without
you and never will be.i cried so much during this time that i didnt think i would ever stop man.the photo album that mom made
us in your honor is the best gift i ever could have gotten under the circumstances.i will have it forever and a day even though
when i look at it all i do is cry.i love you my brother in ways only brothers of our blood can know.i know your watching little
emily grow up.aint she a cutie girl and sweetheart.hey man she has your name.me and jess done that so whenever someone asks
her or us why she has four names we can tell them bout you man,my baby brother cory dale otwell.i love you so much brother
and it isnt getting any easier dealing with this.i think it is getting harder hell i know it is.every one in the whole family
misses you so much.i just wanted you to know that my life will never be the same again since your gone.i just look at it like
i will run into you again oneday and when i do oh boy what that is going to be like.thrillied doesnt touch it bro.im gone
for now baby brother.i love you man with all of me there is in the whole of it.ill talk to you later man and at your grave.
merry christmas and happy new year cory dale. i love you your big brother josh otwell
Hey Boy,
I miss you so much. It is so different with out you here. Oh my Gosh, I wish you were!
School isn't quite the same. Nothin is. You know how much I love you and I always will. I would always call
you and ask all kind of questions about Greg. You would always answer them. You are the whole reason we are together
to begin with. We still talk about you alot. I know you hear us. He really misses you too. The day
after the accident, he had been drinking so I took him home. When we passed by the tree, we both started to cry.
We cried for a long time. I can't get over the fact your gone. It still doesn't seem real. I always think
of what it would be like if you were still here. I remember alot of crazy stuff. Like, how you pushed me down
the stairs at school that day, and how you would always tell me how beautiful I was even if I wasn't wearing a lick of makeup!
I remember graduation night at April's house when you, Nicole, and Brady all came out there. You told me I was your
baby gurl and that you loved me. I'm trying to realize that you are in a much better place than any of us can even imagine,
but it is so hard to know that you aren't here with everybody who loves you. I know you are watching over all of us
and smiling, maybe even laughing at some of the crazy things we do.  !
I just want you to know that I think about you every day! No matter what you will always be in my heart and I will always
think of you and remember the good times. I went to see your mom and dad the other day. It was really hard, but Ms.
Karen made me feel so much better. She is being so strong. You should be really proud of her and your dad.
Me and John still talk alot. He is so crazy! I went over there the other night and I saw Jason too.
He reminds me so much of you. Y'all are so much alike. I think I am gonna go see your mom again sometime
soon though. Well, I guess I'll let you go. Cory...I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I ALWAYS WILL!
I ASK THAT YOU HELP TO STOP MINE AND YOUR FRIENDS FROM DRINKING AND DRIVING! I COULDN'T LOSE ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE
OF THAT. I LOVE YOU CORY DALE!
Love ALWAYS & FOREVER!
~KASSI
12/09/04
|
I LOVE YOU CORY DALE! JUST WANTED TO SAY I MISS YOU --LOVE ALWAYS, SARAH |
1-22-04
Hey Cory Dale, I just wanted you to know that i'm thinking of u and i miss you bunches. Keep watchin over us and i'll see
you again one day. I love you Always.......Love Christine
1-22-04
|
Dear Cory Dale,
I just want to let you know your Dad and I were thinking about you as we usually do. We were talking about you and your
love for your family and life itself. We were talking about how you lived your 16 almost 17 years of life to the fullest and
you were always so cheerful. We miss that so much. We miss our daily wrestling matches we had with you and John, Jason and
I were talking about how you always told everyone you loved them. John said you always told him and that means so much to
him now. You were never ashamed to let everyone see your love and that makes you so special in everyone's eyes. We miss you
each and every single minute of the day . Dad cried yesterday because he passed by the school and all the ballplayers were
practicing and our darling son wasn't. I cried this morning because I just plain out miss you in every way. Can you tell,
little man, your Dad and I love and miss you constantly? I think you know it because you are always with us, we just can't
see you. You always said you were going to take care of your mom and dad, we just never realized it would be from Heaven.
But I know you are with your parents and siblings each and every day and we love you from the bottom of our hearts and one
of these days, we will be united as a family again. We can't wait to see you and tell you face to face how much we love you
and I know your brothers and sister feels the same way. Well, I am going to bed now, your dad and I just wanted to let you
know we love you very much. Goodnight sweetheart.
Love mom and dad |
1-25-04
Hey Cory you really didn't know me but I knew you. It's just hard seeing people miss you so much. Homecoming is this weekend
and I know people are missing you a lot. I haven't seen your tombstone yet but I'm determined to do so, I have heard that
it is beautiful. I just wanted to say hey and hope that you watch over all of us so much, because we miss you so much.
Sincerely,
*~*Christina Atkins*~*
1-29-04
HEY CORY DALE!!!I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
I SIT HERE AT WORK AND THINK OF YOU EVERYDAY.
EVERY TIME I GET ON THE INTERNET YOU ARE THE FIRST THING I SEE.
I LOOK AT EVERY PICTURE OF YOU AND READ THE LETTERS YOU GET EVERY DAY.
I KNOW YOU ALREADY KNOW IT, BUT YOUR PARENTS ARE AWESOME.
YOU HAVE THE MOST LOVING FAMILY THAT I KNOW.
I GO TO SEE YOUR MOM ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, I HAVEN'T GONE THIS WEEK THOUGH.
EMILY AND I WENT OUT THERE AND LOOKED AT ALL OF YOUR PICTURES, AND THE
SCRAPBOOK YOUR MOM IS MAKING.
SHE IS WONDERFUL. I LOVE HER AS MUCH AS I LOVE YOU.
CORY I WISH THAT YOU WERE HERE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
LIFE IS KINDA ROCKY RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WATCHING FROM ABOVE,
BUT YOU ALWAYS HAD A WONDERFUL WAY OF MAKING ME HAPPY.
CORY I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS, BECAUSE YOU LOVE HER AS MUCH AS I DO,
BUT PLEASE WATCH OVER SARAH. THINGS ARE TOUCHY WITH US AT THE MOMENT,
AND I JUST HAVE A PIECE OF MIND KNOWING THAT YOU ARE HOLDING HER UP.
WATCH CHRISTINE TO. I MISS BOTH OF THEM VERY MUCH.
JASON IS WONDERFUL TO CHRISTINE AND IM SO GLAD THAT HE IS IN HER LIFE.
I KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE EVERYTHING WORKED OUT BEFORE LONG THOUGH.
PLEASE KEEP US SAFE AND HAPPY.
I LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH
HILLERY
2/1/04
Hey Baby,
I've been thinking about you alot the past few days. I always think about you but I've really needed you the past week
. I miss you more and more each day and I know the pain should be getting better but it seems like its just getting worst.
Last night was homecoming, it was my first homecoming without you. It didn't seem right. I've been listening to our song alot.
Everytime I hear it I just close my eyes and I picture me on your bed and you are setting there beside me and you are singing
it to me. I get really warm feeling inside like you are right there beside me telling me that you love me and you always will
and everything will be ok. I talked to your mom the other day. I felt so bad for not calling her are going to see her. I didn't
talk to your dad but I wish I would have. She made me feel so much better about myself and how our relationship was. But I
guess I'm kinda in denial thinking that you are still here and its just one of those days we don't talk. Its really hard to
just face the fact I guess and I really hate that I feel like that but its like I can't help it. And its the only way I can
really handle that you aren't here anymore like I want you to be. I miss you so mush Cory you can't even imagine. I love you
so much. I always thought that 7 was are lucking number but I guess there are somethings its just not lucky. My grandmother
is with you now. Take care of her please and let her know that I love her too and I miss her. It was just so hard because
she was so ready to go but she was hanging in there. I told her one night when I went to see her that you were going to be
waiting on her to hold her hand and walk with her. I know you did and I thank you. I love you Baby Always and forever . You
know I always will no matter what. I'm coming to see you soon at your grave. Be waiting on me. I love you Cory Dale. Keep
watching over me and all of us. Till then I see you again I love you!
Love yours Always,
Robin
I love you always and forever!!!
02-02-04
Cory,
hey babe. this is the monday after my stepdad, wade, got killed in a car accident. cory i know you're up there working
and i just pray and pray that you will watch over us. i always talk to you and odie and my grandpa, and now there's another
person up there that i talk to but that i can't see. my mom is soo torn up about this and i'm really worried about her. i
pray to God all the time to give her strength and to help her and i'm asking you too. i know if you were still here, you would
be there with me to make me smile and to make mom feel better. i know God hears me when i talk to him, but tell him that i
need his help right now and so does my family--more than anything. i know you're probably there with wade and he's teaching
you how to make machines and you're teaching him how to play baseball. now he can see why i loved you so much and miss you
like i do. wade was kinda like a father-figure to me and he loved me, ginny, and robbie so much. we have our dad but we knew
that he was always gonna be there for us just like he was for momma. i haven't seen your parents much lately but i've talked
to them a lot. i called on sunday to tell freck happy birthday. well i gotta run but i just wanted to tell you that i love
and miss you just like i always do and to also ask you to help us out now that wade is gone too. take care of us baby.
love always, sarah
02/05/04
Hey Cory Dale, We miss you sooooo much and think of you throughout the days. I thank
you so much for bringing my friendship with Sarah back. I'm glad we are becoming closer than we ever were. We all know that
you are watching over all us everyday. It seems just like yesterday this happened to all of us and I wish it never would have.We
missed you this hunting season . Everyone had a pretty good win.I think your mom got to shoot at a few when we went behing
ms.kim's house.I pray for everything to come out alright in the end. We love you so much and want you to know that you are
always in our hearts and minds. love you cory, Paige and DJ
2/06
Dear Cory Dale, your Dad & I just wanted to check in and tell you we love and miss you. John got a new truck tonight
and you should be here with us so you and him could go out in it. Your Dad & I can just picture you and John leaving in
his new truck and that big ole smile on your face as you were leaving. We would tell you to be careful and we love you two
and you both would reply "we love you too". I have to give another speech on the 17th of this month at Ruston High. I'm doing
it in memory of you. I will have your picture with me so I will have the strength to go through with it. It will be very hard,
but I will go through with it because I know you would want me to. We live our lives for you now. Your brothers and sister
seems to be doing a little better but we all miss you so much and there is not a minute of the day that we don't think of
you and miss you and always wonder why you had to be the one to leave here. You were always so happy and full of life and
we are still so lost without you. Well, I will go, I just wanted to check in with you to let you know how much we love and
miss you. Love you baby.
Love,
Mom and Dad
2/10/04
Hey Cory Dale, I really wish you were here more than ever b/c i know you are the only one that could help me with something
right now. I know you are here watching over everyone and i hope that u can help me out a lil bit, besides this things are
going good and i know we're missing you more and more. Jason's holdin down your room for ya. Cory Dale he's teaching me how
to play the guitar, it's a lot of fun and Jason gets a few kicks from it, but i really enjoy it, i know you're with us but
i only wish we could see you. I miss you Cory Dale...Love you Always!! See u when i get there!.........Christine
02/11/04
Dearest Cory Dale,
I'm so sorry it has taken so long for me to write to you, my computer wouldn't let me, I promise I haven't forgotten about
you, that is impossible. Words can't express how much I love and miss you. Things are so different without you, you have no
idea. School is very different, I don't see you tripping and blaming it on someone else. Dec. 19th, me and a bunch of other
people went to your grave, my mom and I got balloons and we let them go for you in your honor. You have changed so many lives
it's unreal, but it's awesome. Your mom and I talk all the time and you are the main thing we talk about, if you never knew
how much your mom talked about you, now you do. She loves you so much and her and the whole family shows that so much. You
have the best family anybody could ever ask for. I miss all the good times we had on the steps of the old gym...they were
great. I will cherish them forever. I will NEVER forget the summer you helped me out, nobody's ever done something like that
for me, I love you so much. Your family is so great, I am so glad I got the chance to meet them, they all love you and miss
you very much, just as we all do. When I found out that Saturday, I thought it was just a joke, but then I realized it was
real, it felt like I had a part of my heart ripped out. I feel an emptiness inside that will be there forever, a space no
one could ever fill. I have looked at your web a lot, but never got the chance to write anything, now I do, and you have no
idea how hard it is. If I've never asked you for anything, I'm asking for something now, I ask that you watch over all of
your family and friends as they continue with their lives. Cory I miss your beautiful smile, I don't ever remember seeing
you unhappy or trying to make someone unhappy. There was just something about you that nobody could turn down or not laugh
at. You were such a great person, and you have a special place now in my heart as you always will. I have to go for now, I
promise I will write again as soon as I get a chance...I love you and miss you more everyday! Watch over us and protect us!
~Love Always~
Keaton O'Bannon
02/12/04
It's so hurtful. You're not here. We've had birthday celebrations, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Superbowel, more
birthdays, phone calls about family matters, Valentines Day, new born babies, weddings, fish fry's, family vacation plans ,
it goes on and on. Your life was such a part of it all, Cory Dale. Your ball schedule was always considered
and analized for the 4th of July. You would come and camp with Granny and Pap-Paw when you could. You went to
VBS at the camp site. You loved to swim and ride in the boat. You loved to eat the hot dogs...the hamburgers,
playing "Skipbo", sleeping in a tent, playing with Tyler and Sidney. I remember the time you went w/ me and Granny
to SC to visit. We had fun, didn't we? You bought the Nike jacket, we just had a great time. You NEVER complained
about the long drive. Cory, you made Tyler so happy. He followed you around everywhere...and I know
he bugged you sometimes, you never complained. You were so good to him. Well, I feel like I'm rambling on.
It's just that I miss you, Your sweet, happy, silly, funny, curious, cool, good hair, beautiful smile, ever so helpful, loving,
always on the up and looking forward to the next day...just damned happy....Cory Dale. I don't what else to say.
I never even considered losing you or ANY of my nephews or neices... Never. I just wanted to see you
grow up and blossom. Know your wife and children. This was my first hard, cold, fact of life. Honey, I'm
still having problems with it. I want you back Cory. I have to learn to cope, like all the rest of the family.
I DO know you would want us to go on. And we will. But, baby, just know, you'll NEVER, EVER, be forgotten.
When I look into the clear sky at night, I look for the brightest star and then I'll know that it's Cory
Dale Otwell. You're not gone,....just away, smiling at us all.
Aunt Di
02/17
Cory,
It's been awhile since I have written you. It seems like time is going by so fast sometimes. I went by your grave the other
day and left you a present. It wasn't much but I know you wouldn't care. Life is so hard for me right now, but I hoping things
will change. Me and Chris's one year anniversary was on the 14th of February, Can you believe we have been married a year.
Who thought I would ever get married???? Chris tells me about you and his hunting stories sometimes. Yall have some funny
ones!! But then agian who doesn't have a funny story with you. You were such a great friend to everyone and I will never forget
you.
Sincerely,
Jackie Wilson
02/18
Cory,
|
i know that you hear me when i talk to you but i wanted you to know this way too. cory i need your help
so much right now. after wade died, of course, everything is different and things are sooo stressful right now. from family
problems to school to frienships to the way i am emotionally right now...i need you cory--a lot. and i know that you know
exactly what i'm talking about and i just pray and pray about it all and wait for answers from God. i've got a lot of stuff
to figure out right now and a lot of things to decide, and quick. i miss you and i wish more than anything that you were here
in person to help me through all this. i knwo you are in spirit and in my heart but i just wish i could see you and hear you
say that it's all going to be ok. i love you cory dale, and watch over us please.
love always, sarah |
02/25
hey cory
Hey cory it's me Ansaley. This is the first time to look at your site. iv'e been meaning to. I had i.s.s. today and i had
to sweep Mr.Penlands room and i thought of you b/c you would always do something funny and the whole class would laugh and
get in trouble but you never did. I miss you and wish you were here. I remember in betwen classes you & Robin would be
at the lockers and you would always be late for class. I talked to my brother (Jamie) and he talked about you he really misses
you. It's hard to lose a family member but it's really hard to lose a friend. I remember i think it was first grade me and
you didn't have our two front teeth and we had to sing a song Mrs.Folk made up but me and you would never sing b/c we were
so embarrassed. And that time me and Brionna went to Jamie's house and i locked my keys in my car and we tried to break in
but it wouldn't work so we all had to get in Jamie's toyota b/c me and Brionna had practice and the fastest it would go was
30.I think about things like that all the time and im sad b/c your not here but the thoughts still make me smile. I remember
evert would walk down the hall saying Cory Dale. Baseball seasons about to start were going to miss you playing but your number
will always be remembered. #3 on our jersey's
#1 in our hearts
love ya and i'll see you up there one day.LOVE ANSALEY
02/29
cory
I miss you so much. I remember the Saturdays that you would help us at the carwash. You kept me laughing all day.I wish
you were still here to make us laugh. I come to visit you every now and then. There is not a day that goes by that you don't
cross my mind. I remember when I got the phone call that Saturday morning. I just knew that it had to be wrong. You are in
heaven now watching down on all of us. I went to see Karen and Freck and they seem to be doing a lot better. We stayed there
and talked about you for hours. Everybody misses you so much. Momma D's get togethers just are not the same with out you there.
I never got the chance to tell you how much I loved you. I know that you can hear me now. I love you Cory.I will see you in
heaven one day.
your cousin,
Marti P. Hubbard
02/29
Hey Cory, I know im kinda late writin in this but i just got to see your website,School has not been the same without ya,i
miss you so much makin us laugh in Chris'(coach baker) class...i still remember the time we had a sub in chris' class and
we were playing some game and you were chasing me around the room tryin to kiss me and i left the room and ran into the bathroom
and you followed after me,lol i miss those days...you always had a smile on your face and you were so full of life,but we
all know we will see you again one so until then,cory I LOVE YOU..................................................Love--Jodi
03/01
CORY DALE,
HEY CORY DALE. I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU AND DECIDED TO WRITE. EVERYTHING HASN'T STOPPED CHANGING SINCE THAT SATURDAY. SOME
OF IT HAS BEEN GOOD, BUT ALSO REALLY HARD. AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE HELPING ME AND EVERYONE ELSE THROUGH ALL OF
IT. ANY TIME THAT I'M GOING THROUGH SOMETHING AND GET UPSET I REMEMBER HOW YOU ALWAYS MADE THE BEST OUT OF EVERYTHING AND
LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST. NO MATTER WHAT WAS HAPPENING OR WHAT YOU WERE DOING YOU HAD A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND PUT A SMILE
ON EVERYONE ELSES FACE TOO. I ADMIRE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I TRY TO DO THE SAME, BUT I KNOW I WILL NEVER BE ABLE
TO DO IT LIKE YOU. I WENT TO SEE YOUR TOMBSTONE THE OTHER DAY, AND IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. YOUR MOM AND DAD PICKED THE PERFECT
ONE. I'M SURE YOU LOVE IT. MEGAN IS WORKING ON YOUR PAGE IN THE YEARBOOK IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY PRETTY TOO. THERE ARE A
LOT OF PICTURES OF YOU AND ROBIN AND YOU AND YOUR BROTHER. I HOPE EVERYONE LIKES IT. WELL I WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO WATCHING
OVER EVERYONE. LOVE AND MISS YA.
ASHLEY GULLATT
3/2
Let me start off my saying god I miss you. Its so weird feeling b/c you have no clue how many times I just wanted to pick
up the phone and call you. Just to hear your beautiful voice. I can hear you already "hey baby I miss you"" hey beautiful"
you made me feel so warm inside everytime i heard your voice and now its like a recording message in my head and you are saying
that to me over and over again. I start to cry everytime. I need you so bad today Cory. Well I need you all the time but I
just wanted you to hold me like you always did. You always made me feel better when I was down. I have so much going on right
now in my life that I don't think I can take it much more. But I need you so bad. I really think I'm going crazy. I got a
job and Jason and John come there alot. I like when I see parts of your family I feel even closer to you everytime. I went
to see your mom and dad on Valentines Day. Me, Brandon, Megan, Keaton, Justin and Ashley R. went over to your grave and I
put a rose down beside you b/c this was the weirdest valentines day ever b/c you weren't here with me. But after that we all
went to your house to take come cards and flowers to you mom and dad. I miss going over there. I feel so bad for not going
over there as much as i know i should. But i love you cory please help me though all this i'm going though right now i need
you more then anything!!! I love you Always and Forever!!!
Keep watching over me b/c you are the only thing making me smile right now, just to know that you are watching over me.
I love you baby!!
Love Always,
Robin
03/03
Hey Cory Dale, I sure wish that u were still here... it just isn't the same. Things would be sooo much better if u were
still here. It's amazing how you had such an inpact on so many poeples lives and how you made things better for them... including
me. I just hope that you can still be strong for us all and help us to be strong too, and hopefully u can continue to be there
for everyone like u always have. I love you Cory Dale! I promise i'm goin to come and visit u soon!......... Love Christine
Hey Son, this is your Mom and Dad checking in with you as we have always done. They are
giving you another memorial this Thursday at the CHS ballfield in memory of you. That is going to be very hard on us
because every time we have been to the field you have always been playing and we would be cheering you on, but you won't be
there this time and that is killing us. They are naming the baseball tournament the "Cory Otwell memorial tournament"
from here on out and all we do is cry because you should be playing instead of a tournament named after you. We would
give every thing we own to be able to watch you play ball again. You were so talented, it just came natural to you and
we were always so proud of you and we still are. Your brothers and sister would give anything to be able to come watch
you play again, too. Cory Dale, we miss you so much son, it is unbearable at times. The pain isn't going away,
it's getting worse instead of better. Our love for you hasn't changed and it never will. Our memories are so cherished
and so bittersweet that we are either laughing or crying but either way it just goes to show that we think about you and talk
about you constantly. Your brothers, sister, other family members and friends are still hurting because you're gone
and everyone is still so lost without you. But we also know we will see you again one day and we will be ready with
arms wide open son, that is a promise and when I say that I'm speaking for the whole family. We love you so much
and miss you every single minute of the day. I wish you could see your 3 neices and 2 nephews. They are getting
so big. Cole, Ethan and Ra Ra miss you and still talk about you alot. Noelle and Jessa talk about you
alot too, and they are so good to listen to all of us talk about you which is basically all we talk about. Well, your
dad and I are going to go for now, but you know we will be writing you again in a few days and until then just remember
we love you so much baby boy and don't you ever forget it. Dad says, like someone else wrote, #3 on the
jersey and # 1 in our hearts forever. Goodnight son, we love you always and forever.
Mom and Dad
hey cory-dale
its been a while since ive written you..things are so diffrent. i hate it. i miss you so much.. i met
your boy jon bowers, hes so sweet he reminds me so much of you!! i think about you aLL THE TIME.. i really think i need some
counseling. because all i do is cry.. i hate it cory. i hate bein depressed like this. you were always there to make me smile.
i really wanna talk to your parents.. but im too scared. i dont know if i could do it. but i need too.. im really gonna try
to do that soon. do u remember when i sed id never get my hari cut short..well i did..lol..i look so diffrent. i guess im
gonna holla at u later.. i miss you.. i love u so muxh.. your still my boy/best friend ever!! save me a place.. keep it real..!!!
i love you baby boy! r.i.p*****
love always ...
jessie lewis 3-9-04
3/15/04
Cory Dale,
I was just sitting here thinking about you and decided I would write. I can't believe its been 9 months since you've been
gone. My heart aches more and more each day. Every time I see Jason I just wanna cry because you resembled him so much. I
saw the photo album that your mom put together it is so great. Your sister showed it to me. Everything has been so stressful
lately. I wish you were here right now to take my mind off things and just tell me to relax. Anyway I LOVE YOU very much and
I can only dream of the day I get to see that handsome, smiling, face again.
Love,
Your girl
03/25/04
Hey baby. I heard this song by Martina Mcbride and I started to cry. I miss you so much Cory that its unexplainable. There
has been so much happening here that its unreal. Im finally starting to realize that friends arent really what you think they
are. I miss you and wish you were here to help me though the hard times. I love you and Ill always remember the special way
you made me feel.
Love, Sarah
Heres the song:
Occurred to me the other day
You've been gone now almost a year now
Well I guess it takes a while
For someone
to really disappear
And I remember where I was
When the word came about you
It was a day much like today
The sky
was bright and wide and blue
And I wonder where you are
And if the pain ends when you die
And I wonder if there
was
Some better way to say goodbye
Today my heart is big and sore
It's trying to push right through my skin
Won't
see you anymore
I guess that's finally sinking in
Cause you can't make somebody see
With the simple words you say
All
their beauty from within
Sometimes they just look away
I wish there was some better way to say goodbye
dear corydale...
i was juss sittin here thinkin about you. so i thought id write you a letter. im starting to get thru
this a little better, but not that good. i think about all our great times and you all the time. i have so many dreams you've
come back but wheb i wake upit juss breaks my heart b/c its not real.. but i have to think about all the great times we had
together. ill never forget you baby boy,, okay ilove you !!you'll always be ym best friend!1 imiss you ilove u!! love always
jessie lewis... 4/19/04 keep it real!!
Cory, April 23, 2003
Hey Babe. I was over at your house like 2 days ago. I was there with John. Him & Freck had to fix something on his
truck. It was pretty boring for a little while. Then I went inside with your mom. I looked at the scrapbook, oh my God I love
it. It is so unbelievable. You were so cute when you were little. I fell in love with the painting on the wall of you. I was
so stunned at how good of job the person did painting that. It is identical to you. Your mom, me, and Kassi Pesnell just sat
there and talked about you. It was so hard not to cry. I could see the tears in Kassi's eyes and feel them in mine. I still
ask myself why it had to be you. Why was it someone who was loved by so many people??? Well I gotta go. I miss you so much
and I love you!!!
Love Always,
Brittiany
04/25/04
Dear Cory,
Well, it's been almost a year since we lost you. You are still missed greatly by many friends, but the hurt and pain is
still so very real for mom and dad and your family. We miss you so very much son, nobody really knows how much we miss you.
I hope and pray daily that you are happy in a far better place then I can imagine because you deserve it. Cory this is the
last letter Dad will ever write to you, but you will forever be in my heart and on my mind always, as I love you more and
miss you more than any words can describe. Well, son until that special day when I see your beautiful smile again, remember
you will always be my baby son, and always know I love you more than anything else on this earth, I always have and always
will. Make a great diving catch for me.
Love you forever and always son,
Dad
04/27/04
Cory,
The many lessons that you taught me and continue to teach me are many. Last night as I rounded the corner of the kitchen,
Brandon Y. was sacking up the trash to take out.(Brandon reminds me of you- sweet, funny, kind-hearted, cute) I thought of
you and how many times you had done that without being asked and wondered if I had said thank you enough times for you to
really know how much I appreciated your presence and help. I quickly showed him my appreciation. I make a special effort to
pass on the lessons you have helped me to learn and those you continue to teach me. Sometimes, I just burst out in laughter
at some of the things you would say or do to make us Skains girls laugh. Humor is a wonderful thing--another lesson from you!!
Cory, your Mom and Dad are giving Robin her senior ring this Thursday during the Ring Day ceremonies. The ring is beautiful
with a cross and a 3 on the side of it. I am honored that she asked them, and they accepted to give it to her. There is noone
else that I would love to do the honors than your parents. I am sure Ms.Rockette, Robin's other Mom feels the same. Your Mom
and Dad are still a big part of her life and probably will always be. It will be a special day......
"Congratulations, Robin"
Thank you again for all the lessons, memories, and love.
Ms.SueWona.
DEAR CORY,
I WANTED TO WRITE YOU A LETTER TONIGHT AND LET YOU KNOW HOW VERY MUCH WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU.
YOU ARE FOREVER ON EVERYONE'S MINDS AND FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS. THERE IS NOT A MINUTE THAT GOES BY THAT WE DON'T THINK
ABOUT YOU AND ALL THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES YOU GAVE US, WE JUST WISH WE COULD HAVE MADE ALOT MORE MEMORIES WITH YOU. CORY, I
WANTED TO TELL YOU ROBIN ASKED YOUR DAD AND I TO PRESENT HER WITH HER SENIOR RING AT THE RING CEREMONY TODAY AT SCHOOL
AND THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO US AND I KNOW YOU WERE WITH ME, YOUR DAD AND ROBIN THROUGH THE WHOLE CEREMONY.
SHE IS STILL AS PRETTY AND AS SWEET AS ALWAYS AND WE MISS YOU AND HER SO MUCH. WE WERE SO HONORED TO DO THAT FOR ROBIN
AS SHE IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE A BIG PART OF OUR FAMILY. WHEN WE SEE HER WE ALWAYS THINK OF YOU BECAUSE OF THE TWO YEARS
YOU WERE TOGETHER AND ALL THE MEMORIES WE HAVE OF YOU TOGETHER AND ALL THE LOVE YOU SHARED. THOSE MEMORIES WILL
ALWAYS BE WITH US AND THE PICTURES OF YOU TWO WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HOUSE. CORY, HER RING WAS BEAUTIFUL.
SHE HAD YOUR NUMBER #3 ON IT WITH A VERY BEAUTIFUL CROSS ON IT IN MEMORY OF YOU. SHE IS STILL A SWEETHEART AND
SHE STILL LOVES YOU AS MUCH AS WE DO. ALSO, KEATON HAD YOUR NAME PUT ON HER SENIOR RING AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TOO.
SEE SON, YOU ARE STILL SO LOVED AND MISSED BY YOUR FAMILY AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS. I JUST HOPE YOU REALIZED
HOW MUCH YOUR FAMILY LOVED YOU WHILE YOU WERE WITH US. I KNOW YOU DID, BUT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TELL YOU HOW
MUCH IN PERSON BEFORE YOU LEFT US. BUT I DO KNOW YOU ARE WITH US AND HEAR US IN EVERYTHING WE DO. WE ALL
WILL BE REUNITED AS A FAMILY AGAIN ONE DAY AND THEN WE WILL GIVE AND GET ALL THE HUGS WE WANT. RIGHT?
WELL, MOM'S GOT TO GO FOR NOW, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT ROBIN AND OUR DAY WITH HER AND HOW GOOD IT WAS
TO SEE HER AND MS. SUEWONNA AND THE REST OF HER FAMILY. THEY WERE ALWAYS SO GOOD TO YOU AND THEY LOVED YOU AS MUCH AS
YOU LOVED THEM. YOUR DAD AND I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR BETTER FOR YOU.
GOODNIGHT CORY, WE LOVE YOU SON, AND I WILL BE BACK IN TOUCH SOON.
LOVE ALWAYS,
MOM
Hey Cory Dale,
I havent written you in awhile. There has been a lot of changes around here lately. DJ and I found out that I'm pregnant
and can you believe that John is going to be an uncle. I wish you could be here when it's time for the baby to come. I'm sure
John wishes you could be there with him too. Dj and I decided to wait until the baby is born and then we will get married
around May of next year. I'm really excited about all of this and I'm glad my friends are happy for us too. It's almost time
for graduation. I'm so ready for it now. It seems just like yesterday I was just starting high school. I know I sure am gonna
miss it though. I know things are never the same after high school is over. It sure is different without you here cus everyone
is starting to change. Some are changing to good and most are changing to bad. I wish it didnt have to be that way and if
you were here I know it wouldnt be that way. But everyone has to learn their lesson on their own. I think a lot of us has
just learned not to do stuff that we know is bad and could end in bad. But for some people it's just too hard to learn that
way. They choose to be stubborn about it. Well I'm going to get back to work now, so just watch over everyone and we'll see
ya.
Love always, Paige Rollinson
5/10
Hey Baby,
I'm soooo sorry that I haven't wrote you in a long time. There has been so many things happening lately its so unreal.
Last Friday which was the 7th all I could do was think about you and how it just doesn't seem right yet, and I don't think
it ever will. I just can't get it in my mind that your not ever coming back to me and that is want hurts the most. Its really
weird I try to think that we are just having are "space" and we just haven't talked in FOREVER!!! I guess you could really
just say I'm still in denial. Your mom and dad gave me my senior ring. You have no clue how much that means to me. I could
feel you when I was walking toward your mom and dad it was the best feeling I have had in a really long time. I tried so hard
not to cry but I could feel the tears just falling and they wouldn't stop. Its like it happened all over again. But just to
know that you were right there beside me and your mom and dad holding our hands made me feel so much better. But I thank them
ever time I see them for giving it to me. My ring has your baseball number on it and a baseball bat and glove, and a cross
on the other side. Today my mom asked me who took the trash out and who took the trash can to the road and the first thing
that I thought about was you because you always did that for her without her even asking you too. Its just the little things
that people say or do around me that makes me think of you. It has almost been a year that you have been gone, but it seem
just like yesterday that you were here playing around with me and you mom and dad. Knowing that you would always win at anything
we all did. You were just to good of a person to be gone. Sometimes I try to find somebody to blame but then I just think
it was your time and god wanted you to be with him and that is the hardest thing to realize. The other night I was in my bed
and I cried myself to sleep because I have so much on my mind as it is and life is so hard right now. But I was thinking you
wouldn't want me to cry. So I just went to sleep thinking about you. But now I'm about to go to sleep and think about you
some more. I love you Cory and nobody can ever take your place. Keep taking care of me. I love you baby boy!!!
Love always and forever,
Robin
(your one and only girl)
Sweet Cory,
May 11, 2004
I've been thinking of you quite often. I just can't seem to get your beautiful smile out of my head.
I dream about you frequently and it just so strange because you are so real in them. I will be fast asleep and dreaming but
I feel you touch. Its extravagant hot real something can be and I hate when it comes to an end. I realize that yes it is just
a dream. Every dream I have of you is always pleasant. You spirit is present and as foolishly as it might sound you are here.
Since you've physically not been here, I have changed a lot. Indisputably for the worst, after hearing about what happened
to you. Now I feel a lot better. I feel sane. HAHA! It's unbelievable! I never thought I could be this way. I've expected
a lot in my life and the number 1 thing would have to be God. He is helping me become a better person and more of who I want
to be. I can actually say I have learned a lot from you. I said it two months ago but that wasn't true. I lied. I was looking
for acceptance, from whom? I don't know. Now I can honestly say you have helped me in many ways. I'm learning on how to not
be hypocritical. From you I've learned that you shouldn't judge people from their appearances or actions. Everyone makes mistakes.
When I make a mistake its between God and me. Who cares what Mary, Fred, Suzie, and Ed think? Besides who am I to judge anyone.
That's not my job. I've been fighting my biggest enemy, myself. I want to be the best person I can possibly be. I'm trying
to be more loving and open-minded. You can never give too much love. I'm also working on not gossiping. When someone intentionally
comes to me to talk about somebody, I just try to listen and forget. Is it really important that Joe is cheating on Mary with
Hannah? You know what I mean. Gosh, I cannot tell you all of the ways you have inspired me. You have helped me to look through
the bad and push forward with the good. I was really hoping more people would have learned from your tragic accident. I wonder
how many people could look in your face right now and tell you that they have learned. I really knew you Cory for four years
of our lives I can say I grew to know you. I think about situations that I have been in and I often wonder . . . what would
Cory do? You have truly touched me and helped me become a better individual. My heart still aches in much pain that you aren't
here. You were an angel that God sent you here to help and encourage many people. Not all of them have learned. But I am proud
to say that I have. I really miss Jason, we have drifted apart and I hate that. I know in my heart though if I saw him it
would be just the same as it always was. I'm thinking what would be the perfect word to describe Jason . . . "magnificent"-
a glorious work of art. You're whole family is just so awesome. Who could have a better family? They're such large bundles
of love. It was so sweet how your Mom and Dad gave Robin her senior ring. It was such a fun event to have them there! Anyway,
I'm as happy as I think I could be right now in this point of my life. I am loved so much and it feels overwhelming at times
but I think I deserve it. I am blessed to have the love of such a wonderful man. Its really amazing having to know you. Its
hard finding good people in the world. I'm honored to have known you. I just realized what a privilege it is to have encountered
with you. I love you Cory. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you or wish you were here. You are a true
angel, Cory. Please help me to be strong. I love you, baby boy.
Love,
Gina
05/12
Hey Cory Dale, I'm just sitting here at work and reading all the messages that were sent to you. I saw your sister this
morning when I stopped to get some gas. She came up and gave a big hug and told me congratulations. I thought it was really
sweet of her. Her smile and sweetness reminds me so much of you. DJ and I need to go and visit Mrs.Karen and Mr.Freck. I havent
seen them in awhile. I just wanted to write you to say that we miss you and you are always in our hearts. Please watch over
all of us and protect us. We love you so much.
Love always, Paige Rollinson
5/22
Corydale.
I havent written to you in a while , so I wanted to write you. I saw your mom not too long ago. My Grandma passed away
and your mom came up there to the funeral home. It was really great seeing her again. Me and Haley are suspose to go to your
house soon so I can look at the scrapbook your mom put together. Its real hard not seeing you at school. At the Choudrant
baseball tournament they had a dedication for you. We went to state playoffs this week, and I remeber sitting ther beside
Ansaley and thinking you should have been out there playing with them, but I know you were there cheering them on the whole
way. I really miss you Cory I cant say that enough. I love you Cory and I will NEVER EVER forget how great of a person you
were.
~Brittany~
6/7/04
Dear Cory,
Today it has been a year since you left all of us and it just still doesn't seem real or right. I feel so confused without
you. I miss you like you don't even know. I still think about you. I think about all the crazy times we had together and how
much fun we always had together and it makes me so sad. I just don't feel like coming out of my room. I have a picture of
you where you are on my bed and we were being crazy like we always were but you are sideways looking at me with the biggest
smile I have ever seen in my life. I just think everytime I see if what happened that day,me and you both missed school and
we just stayed at my house the whole day. I have dreams about you all the time sometimes I don't ever want to wake up, because
I can see you and I can feel you. I just wish you were here with me now. I want you to hold me like you always did when I
would walk in a room and you would see me. I miss that so bad. The other night I was riding with Regan on the way back from
Monroe and this song came on and it was one of your favorite songs. I just sat there and I started crying. I try not to cry
anymore because I know it want bring you back and I know because I've already tried. I went and saw your mom and dad the other
night. It was so great to see them, I've really missed them. But yall got the cutest little puppy. But your mom called me
the other night and wanted me to go out to the tree today like at 5:15 but I just don't think I can do it. I don't want that
day going over and over again. That day was like a bad dream. Of course I still think about it but I just can't do it. Its
to hard, I don't see how your mom and dad do I pray for them every night to take the pain away but I know they are still in
so much pain. But I'm still here for them just like you told me to be. That is what is to weird and that I don't understand,
you told me one night when I was at your house if anything ever happened to you to tell your mom and dad that you love them
and that you would be watching over them but I didn't think anything about it but now its like I think you knew but your were
an angle sent to us from god. But I love you Cory you know I always will no matter what. Please help me right now and watch
over me I really need somebody right now I wish you were still here with me just to hear your voice you make me the happiest
person in the world. I love you baby always and forever!!! Happy Anniversary. That is another weird thing that it was our
Anniversary and when I saw your cellphone number come up on my caller ID I thought you were calling to tell me Happy Anniversary,
but it was John telling me that bad news. But I love you baby always and forever no matter what!!!!
Love always,
Robin
Hey Cory Dale. I just CANNOT believe that it has been a year today. It just seems so unreal to me. I just got home from
your memorial service at the site. There were 3 candles in place of the tree and a bunch of people were there to honor you
and remember you...but you know we do that all the time. It was so weird to me last night, laying in bed, and thinking "Exactly
a year ago right now, I was laying on the couch with Cory and everything was absolutely perfect". I will never be able to
explain the way I felt when I got that call on that Saturday morning. It was a horrible horrible feeling. Cory, I just wanted
to say that I miss you and that even though it's been a year, we all still love you and miss you just like we did and just
like we always will. I love you, Cory Dale.
Love Always, Sarah
06/07/04
Dear Cory,
You didn't know me back in highschool, and I barely knew you. The thing I remember the most about you is that you look
just like Jason. Jason and I were in the same grade, and some of the same classes, for the two years before he left Choudrant
High. I'm actually related to you, and I remember telling you that one time when you came in the office, because I was an
office aid my senior year (2001). My uncle is Ricky Otwell. Jason called me "cuz" after he found that out,lol. I live across
the street from the methodist church now, and when I pass it I remember hearing what happened to you. I felt bad because I
didn't know your family at all, or you, but I knew Jason a little, and I just wanted to find him and give him a big hug when
I heard the news. I read alot of the letters people wrote you and your family, and I can tell that you were loved by alot
of people. It makes me wish I had known you too. If you were anything like Jason I know I would have laughed my butt off at
you, because I used to laugh at him and Allen and Adam P. in class all the time. I'm pretty sure you were. I talked to you
one time in my whole life and I found myself tearing up reading the letters from your parents, your girlfriend Robin,and Jason.
I would like to say that I am sorry you are gone, but also believe that you are watching over everyone you loved on this earth,
and will continue to do so until they all join you. Watch over Jason, I still worry about what he's doing sometimes, and the
weird thing is I read the letter he wrote you on this site, and the next day saw him at Olive Garden. I hope that your memory
will help alot of people not to drink and drive, and as a result, lives will be saved. It's alot easier to let go of a set
of keys than it is to let go of someone you love, and anyone who doesn't think so should read the letters on this site. You
will change your mind. May God bless you and your family Cory. Maybe I'll get to know you better in heaven one day.
Lacy Richardson
COES Undergraduate Studies
Louisiana Tech University
06/07/04
Dearest Cory,
Well, it has been a year today since we lost you. I don't know what to say except this has been the worst year of our life.
Nothing could be worst unless we lost another child and I couldn't survive another one. I never thought this could happen.
Not to someone so special and so loved as you. Your Dad and I still cry all the time because we still feel the pain as if
it happened yesterday. We hear your voice, we can see your sweet smile and all the memories we have of you are so special
but yet you're not here to make more memories and that is still so hard to except. We are so lost Cory, please help us make
it through this. I know you are watching over us and just please hear us when we tell you how much we love you and miss you.
Your brothers and sister and all other family members feel the same way we do. They miss you, your friends miss you, but most
of all your mother and dad are devastated still, after a year. We will never completely get over losing you until we see you
again in Heaven and then we are not letting you out of our site. We had another candle lite vigil for you this morning and
your Dad and I, your brothers and sister and family members and friends were present, but your Dad and I couldn't stay long.
Please forgive us, but it was just too painful. It hurts your family so much when we think about having to live the rest of
our lives without you being with us. But you will be with us in spirit and I hope you can hear us when we tell you how much
you are missed and loved. I alway worried about people forgetting about you, but I don't think that's possible. When I see
the tears of your friends I know in my heart you were so special to them, they could never forget you. As for as your family,
we will think about you every minute of the day, for the rest of our lives and until we see you in Heaven, you will always
be in our hearts, forever. Well Cory, I'm going for now, but you know your Mom and Dad will be writting to you again in a
few days. Just to let you know baby boy, we're thinking about you and loving you every minute of the day. We will always be
together, even if it is in spirit.
We love you son,
Mom and Dad
06/07/04
For Cory Dale Otwell:
A year hasn't made any difference. It is still as shocking as it was on that hot, humid, unbelievable
horrible day that you left us. Today was the same. We talk about you all the time. I catch myself looking at your picture
and try not to. It's painful. It just wasn't fair. I cannot question God's will. But the unanswered questions will always
hang over us. We are all struggling with that and trying to continue on with our lives, but you're remembered everyday by
so many people. Although I or no one else can ever change what happened, what soothes my pain the most is remembering the
happiness you had in your heart and for others. As far as I know, you never missed out on anything you wanted, you had sooooo
many friends and had a lot of fun in whatever you did. You could take a bad situation and make it happy, everyone laughing.
You didn't squander your short life at all. This came naturally to you. That means so much to me, just knowing how happy you
were with your life and the love you showed your parents, family, and friends. Cory, I know you had forgiveness in your
heart. I know you had salvation and I know you are with God and you'd want the loved ones you left behind to continue on as
best we can, no matter how hard it is. The Cory I knew didn't have a mean, selfish, bitter, spiteful, or vindictive feeling
in his soul. He truly cared for everyone around him and the happiness he could bring to them. You were a special treat to
all who knew you. You will always be remembered. The impact you made was amazing.
Your loving,
Aunt Di
06/16/04
Happy Birthday, Sweetie. I miss you. Love Always, Sarah
06/16/04
Dear Son,
Your Dad & I justed wanted to wish you a Happy 18th Birthday. I don't have to tell you we wish you were here to tell
you in person, but since this is the only way to tell you, we just want you to know we are thinking of you on your birthday.
We love and miss you. If you were still with us we would be celebrating your big 18 this weekend. You always said on your
this birthday, you wanted all of us to go out. Well, we would have, but your life was cut way to short and you didn't even
get to see your 18th birthday, but we are celebrating it with you and for you even if it is in spirit. Today was a very tuff
day for us. Jamie, the babies and we all went to your grave today. People had left flowers and happy birthday banners on your
head stone. They were very pretty. Well, we will go for now son, just so you will know we love you, miss you every minute
of the day and we just wanted to say "happy 18th birthday". Oh by the way, Robin and Justin came to see us tonight. We were
so glad to see them. They went to your grave today too, to wish you happy birthday. Love you always and forever baby.
Mom and Dad
06/16/04
Cory,
Today makes it a year since you have been gone, but it only seems like yesterday you made me laugh. School this year wasn't
the same, it was missing something, someone, you. You have always been the one to make me laugh when I thought my whole world
was coming down. I thank god for that. I'm a Sr. this year, I was kinda looking forward to you being at graduation, acting
a fool lol but you'll have the best seat in the house now. Alot has changed Cory, people, places, but our memories of you
will never change. How could we ever forget about you. Sometimes we depended on you to make our world go round. I am sorry
it's been a while since I have last written but I just couldn't find the words to say, and still can't, but I know you are
in a safe place now making someone else laugh and that's all the world needs. Thank you so much Cory for everything you have
given me and everyone else you know.
Sara Nicholson
6/16/04
Cory,
Today is your birthday and you are 18!!! I miss you like crazy. I have been thinking about you all day and I just wanted
you to know. I love you more than everything. There isn't a minute that goes by and I don't think about you. I just wanted
to tell you that I love you baby always and forever. I went and saw your mom and dad today. They miss you so much. But I love
you baby keep watching over me and all of us down here. I'll see you one day and till then I love you always and forever!!!
Love always, Robin
7-11-04
Hey Baby,
I was just sitting here thinking about you and missing you. I have finally had two different dreams about you and they
were very bittersweet and I will cherish them forever just like I do you and all the beautiful memories I have of you. In
one of my dreams, you had been gone a long time and you were finally coming home and we just grabbed you and hugged your neck
for a long time, then you said " Mama, I'm hungry what's to eat. I fed you cereal just like old times. Oh how I wish you would
come home and I could here you say that again. You would never leave our side and you could have your mashed potatoes, cereal
and fish, your favorite foods, all day, every day. Your Dad and I cried all the next day after my dream. Cory Dale, we still
miss you so much and talk about you all the time. You are forever on our minds. We love you baby son, just as we always did.
One of your close friends, Justin Sanderson, came over to our house today. It was good to see him. He talked about how much
he misses you and after this last memorial, he went to your grave and sat there for a while. Your family, your friends and
everyone else still loves you and miss you just as much today as the day of your accident. Well, I will go for now, I just
wanted to talk to you and tell you how much we still love you and miss you. Play a great game of baseball for me up there
in Heaven and just remember one day our family will be reunited with you again and we will be whole again. I love you baby.
Mom
08/23/04
Dear Cory Dale,
Hey baby, we haven't written to you in a while and neither has anyone else. I can't stand the thought that people will
forget about you, but I know that isn't true. We just get busy and don't write to you, but I know in my heart that everyone
thinks about you every day. Your family still thinks about you every minute of the day. We haven't got past that yet. Well,
school has started again this year and it breaks my heart to know it started without you. You would be a senior this year
and we would have been so proud to see you walk down the isle to except your high school diploma. All your brothers, sister
and other family members would have been there for your big day. But your young life was cut way to short and we'll never
get to see you graduate and that breaks our hearts. The day we lost you our hearts broke into a million pieces and it will
never mend until we see you again and our family is whole once again. I'm kind of down tonight, can you tell? Your Dad had
a very rough day. We have been working on deer stands and he fell to his knees when he got to your stand and cried so hard.
I guess we will struggle like this the rest of our lives. Your brothers and sister are still hurting just like your Dad and
I. We all just loved you so much and we still cannot believe you are gone. I keep hoping you will walk in the door any minute
now, but I think we are beginning to realize that you aren't coming back and that kind of knocks us back down to our knees
again. I wish you could be here with us but I know in my heart you are, we just can't see you. Well son, I will go, I just
wanted to let you know we, as usual, are thinking about you and we love you very much. Until next time, we love you baby.
Love,
Mom and Dad
8-26-04
Hey Baby,
I was just sitting here thinking about you and how much I still miss you I think about you all the time. I go to your house
like your still here, Everytime I go over there I feel like I'm going to see you but by the time I really realize I can't
see you but I can talk to you. I do that everytime I think about you which is all the time. Me and Regan were talking about
you just the other day. We were looking at my senior pictures and we knew you were looking at them with us but I love you
Cory very much!!! Its still just not the same without you but I'm going to go I love you baby always and forever. Don't forget!!!
Love always,
Robin
08-31-04
Hey Cory Dale, I havent written you in awhile. We've just been so busy planning the wedding and all that fun stuff. I wish
you could have been there. All the guys were so spift up. I dont think I've ever seen John that dressed up before. I see that
a lot of people havent written you in awhile. That really disappoints me. I know everyone hasnt forgotten about you, but so
many people used to write and now it's down to not even 5 people. But I know I will never forget about you. And I'll love
you forever and always. Well watch over all of us down here and we'll see you later.
Love always, Paige Bowers
09-01-04
Cory,
I found this poem on the internet and it made me think of you.
"I was born the day you kissed me,
I lived the day you loved me,
I died the day you left me."
Cory I miss you so much. I have been chillin' with John almost everyday. I wish you could be right there with us. We always
have so much fun and laugh like crazy. We talk about you all the time. John will ask me if I remember things that happened
in the past. Of course you know I do. Do you remember when me and one of my best friends (at the time) came to your house
in the middle of the night when you lived on HWY 820? Me and john were talking about it the other night. Sometimes when there
is nothing to do we ride around Pea Ridge and we always end up passing your grave. Even though we don’t stop all the
time you know we are thinking of you constantly!!!! We love you Cory Dale!!!!!!!
09-06-04
Hey you,
So many things happen that make the girls and I think of you. AND yes, after the tears we usually end up laughing. I believe
that is what you would want us to do. You will always be remembered in the Skains' home-- with sweet sorrow.
We were looking at pictures of you and realized that you are always smiling or laughing. We love to remember you that way.
A 19 year old friend was killed in a car wreck last month-- Although it would have been hard to deal with anyway, it brought
up much hurt and grief concerning you.
You continue to be God's Angel and watch over those you love ( Baby Girl for me). Thanks again for the good laughs. Your
laughter and spirit continue to live.
Love ya Cory,
Ms.SueWona .
09-10-04
Hey there Sweet Thing. Cory, there have been so many times when I've thought about you or look on your website to see if
anyone has written you lately. Just because I haven't written you in a while doens't mean that I don't think about you all
the time or miss you just as much as I did on the day you left. I haven't been to your house in a while to see Mrs. Karen
or Freck and I apologize for that...to both of you. I ask Christine all the time how they're doing and what they've been up
to because I know she's out there a pretty good bit. I get to see Jason pretty often though. He'll stop by every now and then
with Christine or just come over when he knows she's here. I started college today, Cory!! Haha! I was kinda nervous at first
but my first day was pretty good. I wish you could be here to experince it with me...I wish you could be here to just experience
it at all. I just wish you could be here period. Well, I need to go but I just wanted to "drop a line to ya" and let you know
I was thinking about you and that I still miss you. Keep watching over us and thank you for all you've done and for all that
you continue to do. I love you, Cory.
Love Always,
Sarah
09-11-04
HEY CORY DALE. I'M SO SORRY I HAVEN'T WROTE YOU IN A LONG TIME. IT BROKE MY HEART WHEN I SAW THAT PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED WRITING
YOU. BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME. SOMETHING LITTLE WILL REMIND US OF YOU AND WE WILL
SIT THERE AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE CRAZY AND FUNNY THINGS YOU DID. SCHOOL STARTED BACK AGAIN AND IT'S MY SENIOR YEAR. I WISH
YOU COULD BE HERE FOR EVERYTHING. I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE THERE WATCHING, BUT I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SEE YOU DO "JUSTIFIED"
WHILE GETTING YOUR DIPLOMA, OR BE AT THE AFTER PARTIES, OR JUST BE THERE WHEN I GET SAD B/C ITS OVER. I MISS YOU STILL SO
MUCH....AND I WILL WRITE YOU AGAIN SOON. LOVE ASHLEY
9-22-04
Hey Baby,
I was thinking about you and I thought I would get on here and talk to you for a little while. I miss you. I just got back
from New York. It was so much fun but I know you were right there beside me I could feel you right there. But I just love
it when I know you are right beside me, its the best feeling in the world!!! I had to go to a wedding in New York and it was
so nice. But I knew you were there because we had to set at these tables and I was looking around and saw that the tables
had numbers on them so I looked to see what my number was and it was 7. My heart just stopped right there. It was so weird
but everything I do or anywhere I go I always see things that have something to do with you. Like the number 7. It was the
day we started dating, it was the day you got killed on, things like that are just so weird but it lets me know you are beside
me watching over me. I miss you so much. I can't ever stop thinking about you. Today I was thinking about you and John walked
in and started talking to me. But I need you right now. I wish you could just hold me in your arms and hold me so tight just
like you always did when you first saw me. God I miss you so much I miss the crazy times we had even the crazy fights we had.
I love you so much words can't even explain how much I love you still. I'm going to go for right now I'll be back I promise.
I'm going to come and see you soon be waiting on me. I love you baby always and forever!!
Love you always,
Robin
09/29/04
Hey Cory Dale,
I know I haven't written you in a while and I'm really sorry. You know I still think about you. I'm always out at your
house seeing Jason and your mom and dad, and I get upset a lot of the times b/c I get to thinkingto myself. Cory sat in this
exact spot. This is Cory's room that I'm in, and his bed that I'm on. It sucks really bad to know that you aren't coming back.
I know that Briley sure knows who her Uncle Cory is. Freck will ask her where's Uncle Cory Briley, and she will look up to
your picture and point to you. I know everyone misses you so much. There are some parts of the day that are really hard for
me and all of this really gets to me. But keep watching over us all and watch over your twin brother. I love you Cory Dale.
~Christine
10/02/04
Dearest Cory,
I know it as been a long time since I have written, and I am soo sorry, things have been a little bit crazy around here.
I just wanted you to know that we are still thinking about you and how much we love and miss you. Jennifer came by the other
day, she hasn't been out to see your grave lately and she wants to, so we are going to come see you very soon. School is definately
not the same this year, it's hard not seeing you in the halls, tripping over your own feet and blaming someone standing close
to you, but it is things like that, that make us laugh when we think about you and the good memories you brought into our
lives. I can't remember ever seeing you with a frown on your face, or someone around frowning, b/c you were there making them
laugh. This has been a very hard year on everyone, your family and friends. We all still cry, it's kind of hard not to, when
we think about you and things that were done that you were part of, but no longer here to do. There is no easy way to get
through this, but we all know that you are there watching over us and helping us. Your mom and dad are so lucky to have a
son as special as you, you are definately one of a kind, and there is no one that can take your place in our hearts. Well,
I need to go for now I promise I will write again soon. Please continue to watch over and protect us. I love you and miss
you so much!
Love Always,
Keaton O'Bannon
10-05-04
Hey sweetheart, this is your mother and dad checking in with you. We just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you
at all times. We love you and miss you very much. Your dad and I were talking about you tonight. Crying because we miss you
and laughing because you were such a character. That is our nightly ritual. Well, I started a new job. I quit the Police Dept.
and went to work at the Sheriff's dept. I couldn't go back to dispatching after your accident so I took a job with the Sheriff's
dept. in administrations. When I went back to dispatching after your accident, every time we had a bad wreck it brought your
accident to mind and I just couldn't handle it anymore. I hope you understand why I had to change jobs. I never thought I
would leave the PD, but life changes doesn't it, baby. We had you one day and you were gone the next without any of us getting
a chance to say goodbye. If only we had known we could at least said a last goodbye. We just didn't know sweetheart, but we
do know how much we love you and miss you. Always and Forever. All your family is doing the best they can, we all have our
good days and our bad days and will continue that way for the rest of our lives. Nicole and Uncle Roger are oversea's in the
armed forces now and I know you are their Angel watching over them until they can return home again. Keep them safe for us,
Okay? Well, sweetheart your dad and I just wanted to check in and tell you we love you so very much and miss you constantly
as does the rest of your family and friends and every night in my Prayers I ask God to please give you a hug for me and to
tell you I love you. I know in my heart you are getting lots of hugs as you deserve them. One of these days we will all be
reunited again and the hugs will be face to face but until then, we love you Cory, our precious son.
We love you, Cory
Mom and Dad
10/6/04
hey cory,
even though i didnt know you for very long, you touched a special place deep down in my heart. you were such a great person
and an even greater friend, i could tell that my first few times around you. i know youre family is grieving but i know they
will make it through all of this.. i know you are sending them blessings from up above to assure them along with your friends
that every thing is oh k and you are in great hands and you may not be coming back here but we have to work extra hard just
like you did to get to you.
thanks for being a great friend and such a wonderful person i love you cory rip
and for cory's parent may you have many blessings from
GOD because you had a wonderful son and did a great job of raising him!!!!!
apryl johnston
10/06/05
What's up, boo? I miss you like crazy. I can remember so many hilarious things about you. Thinking of you cracks me up.
I love how you acted like such a fool to not just please yourself but to make other people laugh too. When I don't write you
on here that doesn't mean I have forgotten you or that I still don't wish you were here. You already know that. I talk to
you every night after I say my prayers. I do wish you could talk back. A couple of months ago my friend Katie got killed in
a car accident. As soon as I found out Régan, Robin, and I all got in the car and went to her house. When we left and got
back in to the car all these emotions came back over us. We got really upset thinking about you and questioning God's authority,
asking him why? We both understand now why He chooses the different paths for each of us. I had a hard time understanding
that. It doesn't seem fair at times but its whats right. I've been reading this book about what heaven's like. Man, it makes
me feel a lot calmer and not afraid. It helps me to be at peace with myself. The way its decribed sounds so perfect. It's
so amazing how in heaven you get to reunite with all your loved ones that have passed. Anyway, I love you boy. I'm still praying
and looking forward to seeing you again and walking in the River of Life with you. I have such a wonderful gift. Its called
life. I wish more people knew they had the same gift. You know Jason realizes he has the gift. He is so awesome. He's got
to be the koolest kat I've ever met. Man do I love that flower child. You truly are an angel. I love you and miss you bunches.
I'll be talking to you tonight.
Love you,
Gina
11-02-04
Hello Cory. I've been thinking a lot about you this week. Robin's birthday
is Thursday and although you won't physically be there, you will be spritually. She is going to be 18! I just can't
believe it. I am super stoked. I can remember 2 years ago wishing she was old enough to do stuff with me and now she is! I
love her so much Cory and I want to thank you for being there for not only her but also my family. I still get warm feelings
in my heart when I think of you. When interesting stuff happens we always say,"That's just Cory letting us know
he is still here." Its so amazing how things change in such a short period of time. I still worry about Robin she's
not the same person she use to be. She is just changing though. Becoming who she wants to be. I don't know why I am getting
so upset right now. She is just getting older.. Thats it. And I miss you not being here with her. As the years are going to
go by she will never forget you and all the wonderful things that you've done. I love you Cory. I just don't know what
I would do without her. Although she can be a turd burgarler at times, she still is my baby sister. I just can't imagine how
your family feels. My heart fills up with pain for them. You are so special to so many people. God
has blessed us all with you in this world. Cory thank you for befriended me. Keep us safe! I love you little man.
Love you,
Gina
11-25-04
Dear Cory,
Your Dad and I are thinking about you and we just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
You were with all of us today in our hearts. We felt your presence. Your Dad sat in his deer stand and cried all
morning. I cried all morning while I cooked and again this evening. We miss you so much and just wish you could
have been with us today. I know you were on everyone's minds, I could tell alot of the family was down. We love
you so very much. The Holiday's will never be the same without your smiling, good natured, loving, sweet, self.
I guess you already know that as much as we tell you. Sweetheart there's not much else I can say, we have
already said it a million times except to tell you again and again how much we love you and how much we miss you.
It will be that way forever for the rest of our family's lives. Always and forever missing you every single minute of
the day. Happy Thanksgiving baby. We love you sweetheart.
Love always,
Mom and Dad
12-24-04
hey Corydale,
i know this is the first time ive written u and im really sorry but everytime
i tryed it wouldnt do it or i really just couldnt put into words what i wanted to say. Everyone really misses u and it gets
harder and harder as the holidays pass. i just wanted to write u and tell u that u will always be in my heart and u will never
be forgotten. MERRY CHRISTMAS CORY!!! Please keep watching over all of us.
lylas,
megan
CHRISTMAS DAY 2004
Hey baby,
Merry Christmas. You were really missed these Holidays. We all thought
about you constantly. Your Dad and I cried just about every night for the last two weeks. Our Holidays would be perfect
if you were here with us. But we know in our hearts you were beside each and every one of us even though we couldn't
see you. We all felt your presence and we treasured it. We would smile just knowing you were here with us.
Your dad and I bought you something for Christmas. It's called " A letter to Heaven" and we are taking it
tomorrow to your grave. It's a beatiful poem from us to you. Merry Christmas baby we love you. Your
Dad and Aunt Di gave me a necklace with your beautiful face engraved on it and it will always stay next
to my heart where your memories are. Now Dad wants one so going to get Aunt Di to have one made for him. Your Aunt Di
had your picture up at our Christmas get together and you were with us through it all. Merry Christmas baby we
love you and miss you each and every minute of the day, always and forever.
We love you Cory Dale,
Mom and Dad
Sweet, Happy, Cory,
I miss you everyday as does everyone. I know you are with us in spirit. This was our second Christmas without
you. We had a good time, just as you would want. You are so sadly missed. It is an unspoken pain that each
of us see, feel, and silently acknowledge every time we are together. We have to pick up and carry
on as best we can. You are our one and only Cory Dale, a treasure and our family has been wounded deeply.
Most of all, thank you for the good times and you will always be with us Cory Dale.
01/03/05
A letter to Heaven
We miss you so,
since you've been gone,
although we know
your spirit lives on.
And we like to think,
when we see the stars shine,
that one of them
is your spirit guiding mine.
We pray that our treasure
of sweet memories
will help our tears
and sorrow to ease.......
Until that day, when
reborn and clear-sighted,
we'll be with you in Heaven,
forever reunited.
Love,
Mom and Dad
1-4-05
Cory,
Let me start off by saying I'm so sorry I haven't wrote you in a while. I feel like instead of writing you I can just talk
to you, but I feel better when I write to you. So I'm just going to do both. It has been so hard the past few weeks. I thought
maybe in would get better but its really not and everyday when I think about you it hurts more and more. The sad thing about
it is I try to make other people you when I know that they can't be you. But I want you here so bad that I try even harder
and it never works. Its like I don't want to realize that you aren't ever coming back and I don't want to realize that you
aren't going to hold me anymore or tell me you love me anymore. It hurts so bad.I talked about you alot during the past holidays.
I feel even worst for not going to see your family. But I'm going to make my way down there.Mom told me about the necklace
that your mom got for Christmas is sound beautiful. I miss you so much Cory. It still just doesn't seem right without you.
I'm going to go for now I love you with everything I have. Always and Forever remember!!! Please keep watching over me help
me with all my pain I have I love you baby!!!
Love always and forever,
Robin
Hey Baby son,
I was just sitting here thinking about you so I decided to write you. Do you know how much
I love you? Do you know how much I miss you? I miss your smiling face, I miss you walking in the door from school
saying " hey mom, what's for supper, I'm starving" or " when are you going to fix me some mashed patotoes woman, but
most of all I miss hearing your voice period. I still listen to your voice mail just to hear you. Cory, I know
you are with us but it's just not the same if I can't see you or talk to you. Your dad misses your conversations with
him, he misses you and him throwing the baseball together in the yard and he misses you walking in the door saying "hey pops,
spot me five". In other words sweet beautiful boy everyone of your family members miss you. It's unbelievable
how much you can miss someone, but we do. Are you happy? Do you hear us when we pray asking God to give you a
hug for us. We think about you all the time. Well, Roger is in Kuwait and so is Nicole. Keep a watch out for both
of them for us please. They both are in dangerous places and we worry about them. Well, your Dad and I have
looked at a couple of places to move and we will be taking all your stuff with us. You will still have your own room
and I plan on fixing it up just like you would want it if you were still with us. Well, your Dad and I have been busy
at work and it helps take our mind off of you but never for long. He has your picture on his visor and I have two pictures
at work I keep on my desk so all we have to do is look up and there you are. When I look at your picture sometimes I
can picture you smiling at me and it's so bittersweet. Well sweetheart, your mother is about to go to bed, I'm getting
sleepy now, so I will wish you a good night and I wish you were still our little boy back home again so I could tuck you into
bed like we have done so many times. But as long as I know you knew how much your family loved you and still loves you
so much and you know how much we miss you and still long to see you again, I will be able to sleep good. Goodnight
baby son, from Mom, Dad, Jamie, Cole, Ethan, Briley, Jason, Josh, Jessa, Ra Ra, Emily, James, Noelle, and the rest of
the family who loves you very much.
We miss you Cory Dale,
Love Mom and Dad and all other family members
February 14, 2005
Dearest Cory,
I know it has been a while since I've written, but do understand that it is hard to put into words how much I love and
miss you, just as everyone else. The days seem to get harder and harder without you, I know that no one will never feel the
pain that your family does, but it is something that all of your friends are going through as well. I will never forget you,
how could I? How could anyone, you left such an impression in everyone's heart and we all love and miss your beautiful smile
and your words of wisdom when someone was upset about something. I still check in with your mom and dad as often as I can.
Your mom surprised me when she came in the daycare where Ethan and Briley go, where I work. I was so glad to see her. When
she showed me the necklace, I just wanted to cry because I know how much your family and everyone loves and misses you. You
have an awesome family, one that loves you very much, and are not scared to let their feelings show, I admire that. I just
ask that you continue to watch over everyone, and watch over me as I begin to get ready to go to basic training for the National
Guard. You will always have a place in my heart! I will come see you again very soon. I promise. I love you and miss you more
than words. Mrs. Karen and Mr. Freck, I love you all very much too, and I will come see you as soon as possible.
Love Always,
Keaton
2/25/05
Hello Cory,
Its so strange for me right now because I dream of you all the time.
I'm having trouble right now knowing the difference between reality and dreams. My dreams will seem so real and I even wake
up at times strongly believing that they are real. The other night I had a dream that you were at one of my friends house
with Robin and we were just hanging out like you've been here the whole time. I believe that dreams have a meaning. I've been
trying to figure out what it all means. I guess I'm going to have to speak with someone wiser than me. Maybe so they can look
outside the picture. I've been trying to surround myself with people that I can benefit from. I'm learning a lot! I'm starting
to love myself and not take people for granted. You just don't know what is going to happen in the next five minutes.
Or if its going to be the last time you see them. I can't be angry anymore. I just can't. Its just not worth the time. I've
been having so much fun with Robin. She's a really awesome individual. She has blossomed into such a beautiful unique lady.
I was hanging out with Jason the other night. Man, I didn't know it was possible to have that much fun with somebody. Its
always such a pleasure to have him in my presence. He brings such a nice aroma in the air. He's actually got to be one of
my favorite people. Anyway buddy, I love you bunches. You're still holding a very special place in my heart. I think its reserved
for "Cory Otwell". Haha! I love me! Keep being in my dreams. I'm going to figure it all out sooner or later. I enjoy seeing
you. Of course you already knew that though. I love you mister!
Kisses,
Gina
4/10/05
hey Cory,
Its been a while since ive written on here and im really sorry, but
me, gullatt, kimberly and keaton try to come and see you as much as we can. This past week was Prom and it was alot
of fun but i couldnt help to think of what it would have been like with you there. I know it would have made our last
prom even better b/c instead of being sad we would all be laughing together and you would be telling us jokes. I just
recently moved to Baton Rouge so i made sure that i went to see you while i was here for Prom and Spring Break.
It was an okay week after all. We all had fun and just thought about how we are all getting older and its kind of scary.
I really wish you could be here to cheer us on at graduation but i know you are watching over us!! We all miss
you and love you and that will never change.
lylas,
megan
04/24/05
Hey beautiful boy, are you mad at your mom and dad. We have not written to you in a while,
only because it breaks our hearts to talk to you through a letter instead of in person. But you always know you
are on our minds and in our thoughts and heart every minute of the day. This has been one of our many tough weekends
without you. We have talked about you and cried all weekend. Just when we think we are going to do better, it
hits home again. I know you want us to be happy and get on with our lives but it's just so hard without you. You
were always so happy and to think we will have to live out the rest of our lives without your beautiful smile and wonderful
personality just knocks us back down. We smile, we laugh, we go to work but our lives are different now and our
laughs are not the carefree laughs we used to have before you left us and never again will be. We loved you so
deeply and so much as we do all of our kids that life is unbearable at times. I wish you could see your neices and nephews.
They are so precious and getting so big. They still talk about their uncle Cory. They want to go to Heaven and
see you. I wish we could, your whole family would be there. We can smile at times because we know you are beside
us smiling with us but that's hard trying to make the grandbabies understand. They want to see you. Well, son
we have bought a new place and the first room we are going to work on is yours. We are doing your room in baseballs.
Imagine that. Other than your family and Robin that was your second love. Hopefully we will be able to move in,
in about 2 to 3 weeks. Well, your dad and I are going to bed now but we just want to tell you we love you so much Cory
Dale and miss you so much but we're sure you already know that and we will always tell you just so you don't ever
forget it. We love you baby always and forever.
Love,
Mom and Dad
5-16-05
Dearest Cory,
I've been thinking about you alot here lately. I always think about how you have really been on my mind the past few
months. Everytime I look at somebody they remind me of you its like you are trying to tell me something and I just haven't
let got it. Your sister started working at Pyle's with me we have the most fun up there. Its just like old times when
we would go to her house and we would just laugh its just so weird being around your family and you not be there. It just
doesn't seem right. But I know that is where you want me to be. I'm sorry I haven't wrote on your web site in a long time
I've been talking to you and writing you myself in what I call "Cory's Book" but Jamie and I talk about you everyday there
hasn't been not one day since she started working up there with me that we don't talk about you. People don't understand that
its good for me to talk about you, I mean yeah its hard why wouldn't it be but it lets me know that I am ok and that you are
right beside me holding my hand as I talk about you. Jamie said to me the other day " I know you don't want to talk about
it but I just needed to know"And I looked at her Cory and I just smiled and I said I love to talk about Cory it doesn't bother
me a bit. I look at myself everyday and I wonder why just like everyone else and I don't understand and I know its going to
take me a while to understand but why you why take something so great away from everyone when you haven't done anything wrong.
We all make mistakes and I don't understand why your mistake had to take your life. I'm just so confused. I'm in the part
of my life where I try to find answers and when I can't find one I take it out on everyone around me and the people I love.
But I got my wisdom teeth taken out last week and as they were putting the gas on me I was thinking just be with me Cory and
I could feel you holding my hand. But after 10 min. my mom looked at me and said what are you doing and I was crying I didn't
realize I was but I was and I was looking up and its like I could feel you and I could hear your voice but I couldn't
see you. As bad as I wanted to I couldn't. Then I just pasted out and I don't remember anything after that. But later that
week your sister came by with Ashley and they talked to me for a while. Then the next day your sister called and said your
mom just walked in the store and she was crying and she thought it was the kids but someone had called your mom and told her
that Choudrant won State in Baseball and I thought about when you and i and your mom and dad went down there and
yall won then too, it was just so great but I thought about you then. Jamie wanted to know if I had anything out of the
newspaper about you because she doesn't really remember anything at the time and I told her I had a whole box of stuff so
I'm going to take it to her and I ask you to just be with her Cory I think she is having a really hard time with you not being
here anymore, your whole family is, I am ,everyone is. Its just so hard to wake up everyday thinking how is my life going
to charge today when 2 years ago I would wake up to the phone ringing and somebody telling me they love me and they are on
their way to my house. Do you know how different that is now everyday? Or to cry my eyes out falling asleep. I don't
like it . I don't like to live my life that way because I want you here with me . I guess you could just call me
a little selfish. But that is how it has to be and I have to do that everyday anyway no matter what. Nothing can change that.I
was looking in your box I have for you and I was reading some of the cards that you have given me in the past and I wish I
could just say so many things to you that I didn't say. I realize everyday how much I miss you. But I think I'm going to go
now please keep holding my hand Cory you still mean the world to me like you always have. Let your family know that I'm still
praying for them and I love them very much. I love you Cory Always And Forever no matter what just like you always told me.
I love you baby boy your always in my heart and my dreams!
I love you Always And Forever,
Robin Skains
5-16-05
Hello Cory!
I was thinking of you wondering what I am going to do with my life
then I realized why wonder? As each day goes on, as time passes by, it doesn't seem like that long ago since I've seen
you. Its strange to me how all my memories of you are still so fresh. I've been talking to Jason a lot here lately over the
past few days. I see Jamie a lot too since she's been working with Robin. They are freaking cool as hell! I'm moving
away soon and I am afraid of being alone. Although I don't spend as much time with my family as I should, they won't be up
the road anymore. It scares me so badly knowing that. I appreciate my family very dearly. I have no idea what its like to
be alone. I know this whole experience will make me not only a stronger individual but also a responsible person. I don't
belong here. Well I don't think I do anyway. I might leave and want to come back. I doubt that though! HA-HA! I'm just too
much of a person to be here. I have too much life inside of me to not share with other people! I am so excited! I wish
you were here. Man, I do so much. Its still crazy to me knowing that I won't ever see you here. Damn, that sucks! I miss you
lil' brother. I just think of the things that I know you could of accomplished. Oh goodness! Lil' Jon is on! Sorry about
that. I am crazy, I think I just now realized that! HA-HA! Go Gina! Go Gina! Alright back on a serious note. You could
have done so much here. I know I could have definitely enjoyed your company! Sometime I feel like I make the same mistakes
over and over again. I don't understand myself at times! Such a silly girl. I am lost. I think about that night all over again.
The pain that I felt when those words came out of Amber's mouth was unreal. I still find myself screaming a lot about it.
It really just pisses me off. I don't like being anger. It almost makes me feel like nothing matters but everything does matter.
My heart just hurts from missing you so much. I still dream of your face quite often and I will find myself waking
up sweating. I have really believed that the dreams were real. I just wake up and think, "Wow, I feel like that did happen."
I get confused at times. I'll be alright. I always am. Cory, I miss you so much. Robin is about to graduate and I know you
will be there with her. Its just when we have these important events we get upset because we feel like you should be there
too. I hear your laugh echoing in my head right now. It brings tears to my eyes only because it makes me happy knowing that
I can still hear your laugh. I love you Cory. Keep on laughing in my head please. It makes me put on my big happy face. I
have lots of love for you baby boy.
Kisses-
Gina
Dearest Cory Dale,
Hey sweet baby son, do you know how much your family misses you and loves
you? Do you hear us talking to you? I sat outside the night before last and looked up at the brightest star and
knew it was you. I talked to you, did you hear me? I wish you could answer and I guess you did but it was not
enough for me. I wish i could hear your voice just to let me know you are alright and if you miss us like we miss you
. well. let me tell you what's been going on. Briley had her 2nd birthday party today and i wish you could have
been there. we missed you. her and emily will always know who their uncle cory is. briley was only 3 weeks
old when we lost you and emily wasn't born yet but they will know you and love you just like we do and always
have. we will make sure of that. i wanted to tell you choudrant won the state championship last weekend. your
dad and i cried so hard because you should have been there. we know you were with everyone of the coaches and ballplayers
in spirit but i wish we all could have been there to watch you play, cheering you all on. you know we wouldn't have
missed it for anything if you were playing. they dedicated the championship to you. did you know that?
I want to share with you what the ballplayers did for you. there was a big write up in the paper and this is what it
said:
the aggies want to dedicate their state championship in the memory of
cory otwell. otwell, who would have been a senior on this year's team was killed in a car accident on june 7, 2003.
while there were eight seniors who all made a difference on the field saturday, there was also a ninth who helped carry the
aggies to the title in spirit.
baby, that proves to us that you are still in the hearts of so many people.
that was the highest honor of all and you can smile your beautiful smile because you are not forgotten at all. that
was so thoughtful of all your friends and ballteam and coaches. they also wore arm bands with your initials on them
and had banners in the dugout with them throughout the playoffs. that was so sweet. you have some wonderful friends
and they miss you like we do. well, we are finally getting to move in our new place next weekend. your dad and
i are so happy we just would love to move you with us. we know wherever we go, you'll be with us, it's just not the
same as seeing you every day. we love you cory dale. do you know that? we miss you baby, do you know that.
well, your mother has to go for now but you know i will be back in touch shortly. your dad and i love yyyyyooooooouuuuuu
so much and miss you so much and your always in our hearts and thoughts. love you baby.
love you always and forever,
mom and dad
5/21/05
Hey Cory
I
miss you, I miss all the laugh you gave us! I was just thinking the other night about that time me and sissy were taking
you home after coming home from papaws for a family gathering. We were on the way coming home and the song "You got it Bad"
by Usher came on and at the very first of it you tried hit that high note and didn't quite make it but you gave me and sissy
a good 10 minute laugh. I want to hear it again so bad! I think about you everyday because I have a big picture
of you over my bed so you can watch out for me, I know you will. I know your watching out for sissy in Iraq. She doing good
just ready to come home and see everyone again. Schools almost over with this year ill be a Sophomore next year. I only
got to spend one year with you at the high school. I know you'll be waiting for me when its my time to finally see you again!
I'm sorry I've never talked to you on here but by the time I get done reading some other I don't have the strength
so ill talk to you in my room and in prayers. When I got the news that morning Cory I just sat there thinking no I MUST
be dreaming I HAVE to be dreaming, I just sat there on the couch trying to find some reason and some way to wake up.
Daddy left to go over to Karen and Frecks and the thing that hurt me was I had to tell Nathan. He didn't come out of his room
for the rest of that day I don't think. I didn't think it was real until that Wednesday. Boys won state! I didn't go
but I do remember when you were there. We watched a movie in Home Ec. It was called "Smashed" and it was about drinking and
driving. I was a VERY good informational video and shows what can happen when you drink and drive. The 6th of June I told
myself over and over again that I would NEVER drink, I see some of my friends drinking and they are my age and I just want
to shake them and say what is wrong with you?!? I know they aren't driving but if they start now, there's no telling what
they might do in the future. I have one of my friends saying that I am her motivation to quit drinking and you are
my reason to stay away from ALL of those things, I think life is better to just stay away from it as much as possible
and that is exactly what I plan to do. I love you Cory. I will NEVER forget you! How could I? You always made me smile.
Bye until next time..
.
Love you SOOOO much
Brandi (lulu)
6-04-05
Hello Cory. I was in town for my birthday and I just wanted to make sure I got
to write you on here. I went to your sister's garage sale and she had the cutest shoe. Yes just one. We couldn't find the
other one. I want it soooo bad. She is so sweet. She's gonna look for it. I can't believe its been 2 years. Wow, thats nuts.
Its still very strange for me. I can remember everything so well. You had called and told me happy birthday. What a terrible
birthday. My birthday last year wasn't too great either. I miss you buddy. At times, I'll be some where and I'll just get
in a daze and think to myself, "Cory really belongs here." It just doesn't feel right not having you around. Its like a cold,
lonely aroma in the air when I have those moments. Then I start to feel empty and not fulfilled. Like at Robin's graduation
and at the after party. Even last night I was just sitting there thinking about you. I was curious to know what you would
have been doing if you would have been standing there in front of me. You have no idea how much I would just love to hang
out with you again and goof off. I would love that Cory. I try so very hard not to take people for granted and appreciate
the time I get to spend with them. It hurts sometimes thinking that all those times I got mad at you with the whole Robin
thing was a such a waste of time. I shouldn't have said some of the things I said but I did. I hope that you have forgiven
me. I feel like in my heart you have but it would just keep me at ease if I actually heard it come out of your mouth. The
other day mom and Régan found a video tape of my friend Katie and I. When I watched it I got upset. I just wanted to
touch her face. Its unbelievable how you just lose people that mean so much to you. I wish so badly that I could have
just hugged ya'll so tightly and let ya'll know how special ya'll are to me. It does keep me at a little ease knowing that
ya'll will never be forgotten out of my heart and I do keep the meomories going on in my head. Man, my birthday sucks. I just
get very emotionally at this time of year. Well, Cory I love you and I miss you TONS. Please keep staying on the look out.
Lots of kisses,
Gina
Hey Cory!
Today is June 7, 2005 and I got on your page and started reading everything and looking
at all the pictures on here. Gah so many people care so much about you! Your family loves you so much! Well
you already know about us winning state! I remember sitting at the game and in the last inning everyone just held
up 3 fingers, and it got kind of quiet. After that something came over our boys and we won! I know what it was now,
it was you. You were helping them win that game! I remember at one point close to end of the game overyone ws
yelling C-H-S C-H-S C-H-S, and all I could think of in my head was C-D-O C-D-O
C-D-O! I remember TJ going up to bat with his C.D.O. armband on and I knew that you were there with all of them in that
game. You were the baseball gaurdian angel. I remeber after the game everyone was crying, and at first I thought it
was only because they were so happy, but then I realzed it was also because we all knew you were watching from right above
our heads, and you were celebrating too. At the parade after the game, your mom came and I had just got done painting
the C.D.O. sign! I went to your mom and gave her the biggest hug! Everyone misses you babyboy! I know that everytime
those baseball players step out onto the field you cross through everyone's mind! We all love you and miss you so much! Keep
watching over us babyboy! I LOVE YOU!
*BRITTANY WELCH* 6-7-05
6/7/05
Cory,
You have been in my head the past two days. Its like every
7th of the Month everything just comes back to June 7,2003. I hate it!! I remember everything that day that week everything
and I don't want too. I look at alot of people and I think why still? I just don't understand. Its like I want to but I'm
still just trying to find somebody to blame and hate. But everything is just getting worst Gina moved away and she is the
only one I really like to talk too when i'm upset about you. I guess because yall were just so close. I try so hard to make
her birthday great but for some reason I always remember the next day and we always talk about you on her birthday. This year
I felt empty because she was with her boyfriend trying to have fun and all I wanted to do is ride around with her and talk
about you. Graduation was so bad. I sat on stage thinking is he looking over me to make sure I don't fall on my face?? but
it shouldn't be like that, you were supposed to be on stage with me. The whole night was just really bad. Even on our senior
trip I would just stop and think I would give anything if you were here with me or I would just say " I love you Cory" to
myself. I called your mom and dad today but I didn't get to talk to them. I wanted to go and see them but I went to my grandmother's
house today because its her birthday and I needed to get away for a night. But I think I'm going to try to get some sleep
now. That makes me think of the night it happened I stayed at your house with your family and Jason and I stayed in your
room and I woke up and all I saw was the back of Jason's head and I thought it was you.I just miss you so bad words can't
even say how much I miss you. But I love you cory more then anything your still in my heart "always and forever" remember.
I love you baby boy!!!
Love always and forever,
Robin
06/16/2005
Happy Birthday Cory!! We
all love and miss you and will never forget about you. We all miss you so much.
I guess you are kicking it with
Mickey Mantle and the other baseball greats. I am sure that you are probably teaching them a thing or two about baseball.
Keep watching over us Cory.
Who would have thought that you would be the Angel that watches over us?
James & Noelle
6/16/05
Cory,
Today is your birthday and all I can do is just remember
all the other birthdays you had and how wonderful they were. Today you would have been 19!! I miss you like crazy!! Your mom
and Jamie ask me to come with them tonight to visit you and we had is all set up like times and all but then it just started
raining I wanted so bad to still come out there but I just thought well I will go tomorrow with Jamie. I got you something
you will see it when I bring it to you. I miss you Cory so much I wish we could celebrate your birthday together like we use
too. But I love you Cory I'm still thinking about you all the time. I love you always and forever!!
Love always,
Robin
Dearest Cory, what can your mother say besides I am so sorry I haven't written you before now.
I can't put into words how I have felt this last month. First, it was mother's day. How can you enjoy mother's
day when one of your children isn't here. That's what mother's day is for, to celebrate being a mother. I was
there for my mother but you couldn't be here with me. That killed my heart. Then June 7th hit even harder.
That day is a day from hell and will always be. Then June 16th, your birthday. You would have been 19.
That day broke our hearts, Cory. Your whole family cried and hurt so bad for you. Then, yesterday was Father's day.
Same thing. How can you celebrate Father's day when your child isn't here. God, does the pain
ever go away? No, Cory I can honestly say it never will, we will just have to learn to live with it and we are but it
still isn't easy if we let ourselves think about it. The only way to ease the pain is to forget and you know we will
never forget you, even if we lived to be 200 we would never forget you. We'll deal with the pain before we forget.
We love you and miss you and we always will. Please, please, please know that from the bottom of our hearts you will
always be in our thoughts and we will go on loving you forever. I am so sorry I haven't written you before now, Cory,
but my heart has just been to heavy. On your birthday, we took some flowers and a banner to your grave. I
had a banner ordered that said Happy Birthday Cory, We love you. Of course, we cried. I need for you to give me
and Dad a sign again to let us know you are okay. When we get really down, you always give me or your Dad a
sign that you are happy and okay. We need that sign, son. I would like to wrap my arms around you one last time
and tell you how much I love you. Just once more. Just wait for us in Heaven and one day your whole family will
be with you again and you'll gets lots of hugs and kisses from all of us. Well, we moved into a new house. I wish
you were with us, you would love it. You would have lots of room to ride 4-wheelers which you loved so much. I've
started wallpapering your room in baseball's, imagine that. I hope you can see it from Heaven, you'll love it. It's
just like you. We have so many memories of you playing ball. Other than your family and Robin, that was your second
love. We would have liked to have made a thousand more memories of you playing ball but it didn't work out like we had
planned. We miss you Cory Dale, so much and it that will never go away, nor will our love for you.. Well, your
mother is about to go to bed, I just wanted to ask your forgiveness for not writing you before now. Please forgive me.
I've just had a hard time here lately dealing with everything. But know in your heart we love you more than anything
in this world and we are always thinking of you, missing you and loving you from the bottom of our hearts, forever and always.
We love you Cory Dale.
Love,
Mom and Dad
08/02/05
Hey, precious boy. Your dad and I just wanted you to know we are talking
about you. You are still a daily topic around here and will always continue to be our daily topic. Just because
you're in Heaven now doesn't mean we don't think about you, talk about you and love you. We do all three all the time.
Think about you, talk about you and love you constantly. We miss you sssssoooooo much. Sometimes your dad
and I just sit and picture you busting in the door saying " hey, mom, pops what's up? Mom, what's for
supper, I'm starving and pops, spot me five, I need some gas money. Son, we would give up our lives to hear
that beautiful voice of yours say those words to us again and to be able to hug your neck and tell you how much you were
and are loved. Not just by us but by everyone. Your dad and I were reading some of the papers in one
of your notebooks from school and it was a study guide on Developing Character. One of the questions was: FROM
WHAT SOURCES DO MANY PEOPLE LEARN VALUES? Your answer was: Parents, Bible and Church.
That was all you. You loved your family and God. God saw your sweetness, your strength, that huge
heart of yours, that beautiful smile and your ability to love beyond our imagination and he had to have you.
He always takes the best and he got the best there is in you. I can now understand why God took you. Sometimes
we still don't understand completely but I know I will see your beautiful smile again and you will be waiting on
your family with arms wide open and I will be waiting on that day to come so we can be reunited with you again.
I wish you could see your room. I wallpapered your room in baseballs and I have hung all your ball pictures, trophies
and all other things that was a part of you. You would love it. We call it our Cory Heaven. We go to our
Cory Heaven when we get down and all the pictures and memories in your room will lift us up again just knowing you are still
apart of us. Well, baby son, we have to go to bed now so we will tell you again how very much we love
you and how much you are remembered and missed. WE LOVE YOU CORY DALE.
09/20/05
Dearest Cory,
I just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you so I decided to write you. I miss you
sweetheart. I love you sweetheart. Do you know how much? Only God knows how much I miss you and love you.
I miss your beautiful smile, your voice, your presence and everything else in between. Will the pain ever go away?
Never. Will I wake up one day and not miss you? Never. Christmas is coming up pretty soon. I'll have
to spend another Christmas without you. Christmas was always my favorite time of the year. We always had a big
time together with you and all your brothers and sister, neices and nephews and then the other family members. But not
anymore. They'll never be the same again as long as I live. I don't even look forward to them anymore. I
just Pray you are with us each and every day and you know how much we love and miss you. I also wanted to tell you, Jason has parachuted
out of a plane twice and when they ask him was he scared, he told them no, he had an Angel with him. He knew
you would watch over him and be with him all the way. He never was scared because he knew you would keep him
safe and he was right. Well, I'm going to go for now, I just wanted to tell you Cory Dale, I love you and miss you sweetheart.
I love you forever and ever.
Love,
Mom
10/04/05
Cory!!!!!!! Please forgive me for not writing you before now. I'm so sorry!
I've been so busy with school and work, it's just been crazy. Cory, I still think about you all the time. I still
carry the picture I took of you on the last night I ever saw your precious little face and that one-of-a-kind smile.
It's in my wallet, and every time I open it, I see you. I miss you and even though it's been over two years, it still
feels like this has all just happened. Thanks for watching over all of us down here. I love you, Cory Dale!
Love, Sarah
11/24/05
Dear Cory,
Happy Thanksgiving, baby. Your dad and I have thought about and missed you all day.
We remembered all the good times at Thanksgiving we used to have when you were still with us. It's not the same
now. We smile, we laugh but that hole in our heart that was ripped out the day we lost you gets very painful at
Holidays. We get very depressed just knowing we will never again have you with us during Holidays. Christmas
is coming up and it's already depressing. Your dad sat in the deer stand last weekend where you killed your first buck
and said he started crying thinking about you. Then he got to thinking about the gun kicking you out of the
chair when you shot the deer and he started smiling. Bittersweet memories. We still get very emotional thinking
about all the good times with you and the family and we cry and then we have to laugh because you were so funny and you
were always laughing about something making every around you laugh. You were always so happy.
We miss your laugh, we miss your smile but most of all we miss talking to you and having you around through everything.
I guess it's just better to say we miss everything about you. You were so loved so much Cory Dale, I just hope and pray
you realized it before you left here. Well son, we are going to bed now, but not before we tell you how much we love
you baby and how much we miss you. Happy Thanksgiving, son, your dad and I love you always and forever.
Love,
Mom and Dad
12/15/05
Sweet Precious Cory,
Words can’t express how much I miss you. Everyday I pass by
where you were killed and all I can think about is that horrible day. For Thanksgiving I went to Georgia, it was so beautiful
out there. I could really feel you right there beside me the whole time. I would be sitting outside watching the sunset and
the wind would blow and I would get chill bumps all over again like it was my first to see. Its just so unreal, that your
not here anymore. But I don’t like to think of it that way. I think God needed you but at the same time so does everyone
else. Its like I want to be selfish. I miss you so much and I don’t think I could miss anyone as much as I miss you.
Every time I see or hear about somebody drinking and driving I pray to God that there not going to drive, because I would
hate for somebody’s family to go through what your family is. I see your Mom and Dad all the time and they just need
you more then ever during the holidays well they need you all the time but the holidays are the worst, its just like your
mom said there not even here let and everyone is already depressed. Well she finished your room and it looks like you and
really living there. She did a wonderful job. It looks just like you. All of our pictures are up all your baseball stuff is
up. When I walked in I got chill bumps. Jamie and I have been hanging out a lot. I stayed the night with her one night and
it was just so much fun but al the same time it didn’t feel right. I was always with you when I was at Jamie’s
house. But we talked about you; well we always talk about you. The kids are looking more like you. Ethan asked
me the other day if I missed you and if I talked to you and it just doesn’t seem right for him to ask me that. Cole
is still having a hard time with it. He misses his uncle Cory. But every time they see me they ask about you and all I can
do is just hug them. I was reading something in the newspaper about a boy that was about to sign off with Tech baseball. Well
of course I got upset and my mom was looking at me like I was crazy because she didn’t know what I was reading and she
didn’t know why I was crying. So I finished reading it and I looked at her and she said what is it what is wrong, and
I said that was Cory’s dream. The first thing I could think about was your mom, because I know if she saw it she would
get upset too. But I still have that newspaper and I read it just like if I was reading about you. Well I miss you more and
more everyday. I started crying the other night and mom asked me what was wrong and I told her I just messed you so much.
But then I stopped because I have to let your light shine. And I can’t do that when I cry, that is what my mom tells
me all the time. But I feel so much better when I cry. I actually started to believe that if I cry it would bring you back
but it just hasn’t let. Well I love you Cory more and more each day. Keep holding my hand through all the hard times
I have. I’m still missing you. I love you always and forever.
Love you,
Robin
12/25/05
To our darling Cory,
Merry Christmas baby. Oh my gosh, son, we missed you so much. It's supposed
to get easier but it doesn't and it hasn't. Well, as usual we have cried for the last two weeks. I don't think
anyone understands except the family just how much you are missed. We look around at all the family and it's just
not the same since you left us. There will always be that one special face, that one special smile that only you had. The
hole that was left in our hearts the day you left us just gets bigger and bigger, especially during the holidays. I
would gladly give up my life to hug you one last time and to have you back with the family. I would give anything
if you could have seen your nieces and nephews unwrapping their gifts. I would give even more if I could have see
YOU open presents with all the family just like it used to be. It will never be the same. But as long as
you know your family loves you and we all were thinking about you all through the holidays just like we
do everyday. Your dad and I had your memory candle burning. It shines a light on your beautiful face just
like you always lit up our life while you were with us. Cory, Dad is not good at typing so he ask me to tell you
he loves you so much, he misses you each and everyday and he said Merry Christmas. He was crying when he ask me to write
this to you. He also said to tell you he would give anything to be able to just sit down with you and have one of your heart
to heart talks you two used to have. He misses you Cory and so do I. Please know that we love you from the bottom
of our souls baby. Always know we will never, ever quit loving you. You will be in our hearts until the day
we join you. We love you baby son. Merry Christmas sweetheart.
Mom and Dad
04-16-06
To our precious son, Cory Dale.
Happy Easter baby. I wish you could have been here today to watch your neices
and nephews hunt Easter eggs. They had a blast. I helped Briley and Emily cheat. Your three older nephews
and neice kept finding them all so guess what? I held their little hands and let them get a head start before the older
ones so they could find the eggs. They were so excited when they found an egg. It was so cute. I know you had
a lot better Easter then we did. You were with Jesus celebrating. You had the best Easter of all, didn't
you baby. I just wish you could be with the family and we could be a whole family again
this Easter, either in Heaven or here on earth, it wouldn't matter where as long as we were together. Jason
was thinking about you and missing you today just like the rest of us. He said when he left today he was going by the
cemetary to wish you a Happy Easter. We sat around talking about you today and some of the funny stuff you used
to do. You were so comical. We miss you Cory, we miss your bright smile, we miss your beautiful face, your sweet
nature and your comical ways. I know we have told you all that a million times and if you were here, you would say "
Mom, Dad, you've already said that a million times" and we would laugh and tell you again, then you would laugh.
You would have been with your neices and nephews hiding eggs and then helping them find them. You loved them
with all your heart and they loved you with all their heart. Cole and I went to town Thursday night and he wanted to
hear "Uncle Cory's song", which is "The Greatest" by Kenny Rogers. We all say that's your song because whoever wrote
it, wrote it just for you. I know when Cole or Ethan says " I want to listen to Uncle Cory's song, I know which one to play
and they always want to listen to it when we go somewhere. Jamie recorded it for them and they play it in their room
all the time.
I wish you could be here to watch Cole play ball. He is getting good just
like you were. His first game he struck out the first time and then the next three times he got base hits. His
second game he got three good base hits and caught a hard hit ball on third and threw it to first. We were all so excited
but I think he was the most excited. Ethan and Riayn's team's haven't started their season yet. Your dad
and I were talking after Cole's last game that if you were still here, you would be coaching Cole or Ethan or both.
You would have made a very good coach for them and they would have loved it if you would have coached them. Your
dad talked about trying to coach them but the memories would be to hard after all the countless times and games he
coached you. Those memories he has of you and him together on the ballfield will always, I specify on always,
be the most enjoyable times of his entire life. Cory, you and your dad were identical when it came to baseball. You both loved
baseball, your dad coaching you and you playing. We never missed one of your games and we were and still are so very
proud of you. You were and are our superstar on the field and off the field. Cory Dale, I want you to know you
have another little ball player on the way. Your big brother James and Noelle are expecting a little baby son August
28th. We are all so excited, we can hardly wait. Your dad and I are ready for Noelle to have the baby right now. So
see, you are going to be a Uncle again. We can't wait to hold him and I would give anything for you to be here
when he arrives in our world. You and I would be fighting over who's going to hold him just like we used to do on the
rest of them. Well son, your Dad and I are going to go, we just wanted to wish you a Happy Easter and tell you
how much we love and miss you always and forever. We love you baby son, so very much. Happy Easter Cory.
We love you,
Mom and Dad
05-10-06
Hey Cory Dale,
Know it's been a while, but i couldn't help life has been so crazy!!
if you're wondering why, Kane & I are getting married!!! I still can't help but
know if you were here you would be one of Kane's groomsmen. & you would
be crackin on me for something!!! That's what i miss most about you!! You could
make me laugh like no 1 else!! It's still pretty hard. That's why i haven't written in
such a while!! I actually don't always cry, even if a tear rolls. I try to be strong!!
Oh & Jason just reminds me of what you would be now!! He is just crazy. I had
a dream that someone was yelling outside of mine & Kane's trailer (right beside
your old house) & well there was someone(Jason) yelling outside the trailer.
About a week later Jason showed up next door (your old house) & Kane was
talkin Allen & Jason when Jason informed Kane that it was just too peaceful
so he had to stop & yell. So i wasn't dreaming.
BTW. I have thought about this really different little thing to do on my boquet.
I saw it somewhere, probably a magazine. Anyway, you take a picture of
someone you wish could be there with you & put it on a ribbon to hang
down from the boquet. I have three people who I really miss & wish could be
there. You, Kane's late Aunt Linda(who we lost from cancer last fall), & my
papaw(great grand-father who i was really close 2, i'm sure you remember i
lost him in 8th grade & i remeber you givin me a hug a tellin me it would be
okay). Well let me go for right now. Love you whole bunches
Nicole Richmond
(soon to be Nicole Rozelle)
June 6, 2006
Dearest Cory, I miss you
more and more each and everyday. It's been 3 years since you grew your beautiful wings and left this place and everyone else
here. So much had happened in my life it just doesn't seem right. I always thought you would be that special one that I would
grow old with and we would just enjoy life, with no worries. Now all I do is worry. And now all I can do is just hope you
are holding me like you always would and hope you are wiping all my tears that just keep coming every time I say your precious
name. It's just so hard for me to make myself believe that you aren't coming back and that I just have to wait to see you
again, but that is the day I will be waiting for. It's very hard right now for you family, keep them close to you Cory all
they need is to know you are with them. I saw your mom few weeks ago and all I could do is just hug her so tight and cry.
She told me” she couldn't do it, and she misses you to much". I told her "yes you can he is here with us Mrs. Karen."
That was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I never thought your mom and I would hold each other so tight and just
cry with so many people surrounding us, we didn't care. It's just so different without you here. This month is the only month
I don't really want to see come around. Gina's birthday is today and she is taking it hard again. She told me this year was
the hardest for her. She misses you so much. She lost one of the closest things to her heart and that was you. Her lil brother
she always called you. It makes me sad to her sad on her birthday. She needs you to hold her, just like all of us do. She
is 21 today, please be with her Cory don't let her make any stupid mistakes. Well I miss you Cory. It's hard to believe it's
been 3 years. I just need you to keep hold my hands and hold me tight every night let me know you are with me. I love you
baby always and forever! Till I see you again.
I love you,
Robin
HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY CORY DALE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART FROM THE WHOLE FAMILY. YOU WERE ON ALOT OF PEOPLE'S
MINDS TODAY AND AS ALWAYS, IN OUR HEARTS. CORY 20 YEARS AGO TODAY ABOUT THIS TIME I WENT INTO LABOR WITH YOU. YOUR
DAD DIDN'T BELIEVE I WAS IN LABOR BECAUSE YOU WERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS OVERDUE. THE DOCTOR WANTED TO INDUCE
LABOR A WEEK EARLIER BUT I WOULDN'T LET HIM BECAUSE I KNEW WHEN YOUR LITTLE BEAUTIFUL SELF WAS
READY, YOU WOULD ARRIVE IN OUR WORLD. AROUND 1:00 THAT MORNING YOUR LITTLE FOOT KICKED ME AND
IT BROKE MY WATER SO YOUR DAD HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BELIEVE I WAS IN LABOR THEN. SO WE GOT
DRESSED AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND YOU ARRIVED AT 5:00 A.M. A BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY. AND WHEN YOU FINALLY ARRIVED
WE WERE SO VERY HAPPY AND OUR WORLD WAS TOTALLY COMPLETE. WE HAD OUR 5 OTHER PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND OUR BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS CORY
DALE. YOUR DAD AND I BOTH NAMED YOU. I LIKED CORY AND HE WANTED YOU NAMED AFTER HIS FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
PLAYER WHICH WAS DALE MURPHY. (IMAGINE THAT). WE BOTH BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD AND WE BOTH NAMED YOU. WE BOTH
RAISED YOU. AND ALL OF US LOST THE DAY YOU LEFT US. YOUR DAD WAS IN THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH ME WHEN YOU WERE BORN.
CORY I STILL HAVE THE HOSPITAL SUIT YOUR DAD HAD TO WEAR WHEN YOU MADE YOUR SWEET LITTLE APPEARANCE WE BOTH HELD
YOU AS SOON AS YOU WERE BORN. THE DAY I BROUGHT YOU HOME ALL YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTER HELD YOU AND THROUGH THE YEARS, HELPED
US RAISE YOU. OUR LITTLE CORY DALE. OUR WORLD WAS COMPLETE. IT WAS COMPLETE FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS. THEN OUR HAPPY
FAMILY AND COMPLETE WORLD TOTALLY FELL APART WHEN WE LOST YOU. WHEN YOU ARRIVED YOU WEIGHED 7 LBS 4 OZ, AND WAS 19" LONG.
WHEN YOU LEFT US YOU WERE 6' FOOT AND WEIGHED 130 LBS. WE WONDER EVERY SINGLE DAY WHAT YOU WOULD LOOK LIKE NOW AND WE WONDER
HOW TALL YOU WOULD BE TODAY AND WHAT YOU WOULD BE DOING. THOSE THOUGHTS GO THROUGH OUR MINDS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE TALK
ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT WE CAN LOOK UPON YOUR BEAUTIFUL SMILING FACE AGAIN AND
WE CAN BE A COMPLETE HAPPY FAMILY AGAIN. WE WILL ALL REUNITE IN HEAVEN WITH YOU ONE OF THESE DAYS AND THANK GOD WE
HAVE THAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE SURVIVED YOUR DEATH IF WE DIDN'T HAVE HOPE OF SEEING YOU
AGAIN ONE DAY. WHEN WE FINALLY DO SEE YOU AGAIN, YOU WILL NOT SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS THIS TIME. I
HAVE SO MANY PICTURES OF YOUR BROTHERS, SISTER AND DAD HOLDING YOU WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE BABY AND YOU ARE LOOKING
UP AT THEM JUST SMILING THAT SWEET LITTLE SMILE. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE NOW ARE OUR PICTURES OF YOU AND OUR WONDERFUL
MEMORIES. WE ALL TREASURE AND CHERISH EVERY PICTURE AND EVERY MEMORY WE HAVE OF YOU AND THEY ARE FOREVER ENGRAVED IN
OUR HEARTS WHERE THEY WILL ALWAYS BE. HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU EVERY SINGLE MINUTE
OF THE DAY.
MOM AN DAD
GOD TOOK MY HAND
Last night while we were trying to sleep, Cory’s voice we did hear,
We opened our eyes and looked around, but he did not appear…
He said, “Mom, Dad you’ve got to listen, you’ve got
to understand,
God didn’t take me from you, Mom and Dad, he only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that morning, the instant that I died,
He reached down and took my hand and pulled me to his side.
He pulled me up and saved me from misery and pain,
My body was hurt so badly inside, I could never be the same.
My search is really over now; I’ve found happiness from within,
All the answers to my dreams and all that might have been.
I love you so and miss you so, and I’ll always be nearby,
My body’s gone forever but my spirit will never die,
And so
you must go on now, one day at a time,
Just remember and understand, Mom and Dad,
God didn’t take me from you, He only took my hand .
09-06-06
September 9, 2006
well... what can i really say... i need
someone to talk to at the moment... i started thinking about you tonight again.. so i figured i needed to write you something...
to let you KNOW i was thinking about you.. although i do every day no matter what... something is going to remind me of you...
i make sure of it...i know i havent written you in a while... but you know i miss you boy.. its weird how much we
all miss you... its really nothing that can be expressed in words... there will always be that emptiness of you not being
at the family gatherings... christmas is nothing without you and jason cuttin up and making us laugh... i remember i would
be at lunch at school standing up talking to someone and id feel something and turn around and it was you bending down acting
like you were tying your shoe... while you were stickin your butt out at me... haha... those kind of memories are the ones
i hold most nearest and dearest to me.. they are all i have left of you... besides pictures, of course... but cory.. thats
just not enough... anyone that knew you would agree with me... anyone who has been around you for more than 3 seconds would
agree with me!... i hope you realize that the time you were here on this earth... though little it was... you made a huge
impact on the peoples lives around you.. and for God to give us something so great, then take it away.. its just unexplainable..
but i do believe that no matter what the circumstances.. everything happens for a reason... we may never know the reason ourselves...
but He does.. but it seems like it has to be the best of us doesnt it?... but i just wait until the day i see you again..
i may live to be a old fart... who knows... but you know what? it would ABSOLUTLY! be worth the wait to see you and your smile
again... and just to hear you call me "lulu" again... that was YOUR nickname for me.. no one else will ever call me that...
i also wanted to share a poem ole nathan brown wrote for you... he posted it on his myspace for everyone to see...
i thought it was beautiful.. he has actually wrote a couple about you.. but here is this one..
an uninhabited void
within draws mouring
i close my eyes
and imagine u in front
of me
but as quickly as you had appeared
your gone again.....
a favorable memory
that casts down upon my conscience
as
i come to remember
that it was so so long ago
when we were younger...getting into trouble
like we always did.....
i
sense you are watching
guideing my ever swaying step
and when you look away i fall
i fall into a deep sense of pain
and remorse
i cannot express the anguish i felt
on that summer morning
knowing that u had left this world
and
passed on to the next
i can only look to the sky....
and wonder if im making u proud
in the slight breeze that presents
itself all around me
i sometimes wonder if its your workings
a way of giving me a sign to let me know
that ull always
be with me
An Angel Amonst Men
My cousin as well as a friend
Cory Dale ill always love u and miss u so much
Well
meet again one day..........
Sweet isnt it?... yeah i shed a couple of tears on it.. just goes to show..
we havent forgotten you... your still with us and always will be... well babe you know i love you... its about 1:45 in the
morning i think i need to get into bed... i was just thinking of you.. just wanted to let you know that i love you... always
will.. it will never ever fade..... so until next time.. just watch over us like i know you will... rip... Cory Dale...
love forever and always #3...
love,
your little
cuz... Brandi Lynn Brown
2/12/07
Hey Cory,
I know it's been awhile since I have written. I have been without a computer until recently. But believe me, it's not
because I have stopped thinking about you. I think about you every day when I pass your cross at the accident site. I have
my good days and bad days. Your mother and I call them bad Cory days. We cry on those days. On the good Cory days, we smile
and laugh remembering things you have said or done. You would be so proud of your mom and dad. They are the bravest, strongest
people I know. Your entire big family and all of your friends miss you very much. Time is not healing this wound. You touched
everyones life so much. I know you are fine in Heaven it is those of us who miss and mourn you who are suffering the loss.
You are having a blast I know. And we all feel you watching over us and smiling down on us. We will all be together one day.
What a celebration that will be. I will let you go now, but I will write again. I love you and I miss you very much.
Aunt Deb
02/22/07
My dearest, dearest Cory,
Your mother and daddy has not forgotten you, never have and never
will. We have written you so many times but your aunt Di was having trouble with the website people and she could not
get all your letters to go through. It was very upsetting to her but she finally got through to them and we can now post letters
to you again. You know we could never forget you, not ever. I had emailed you about your Papa Billy Mack's death and I said
in my letter to you, I know you were there to welcome him with open arms and that big smile on your face that we all
loved. I wish we could have seen that awesome reunion between Papa and you and you introducing your Papa to all your other
friends and family in God's beautiful Heaven that we here on earth can only imagine. You and Papa are so totally at peace
and happy in God's kingdom now and we can except that as long as we know you are happy. We will never know the peace
and happiness we knew before your death. That is long gone and we'll never know it again until we reunite with you and join
you in Heaven. I also emailed you about your nephew's birth. James and Noelle had a beautiful boy August 21, 2006. He
looks just like his daddy. He is so beautiful and so sweet. James has said on so many occasions that he wishes you were here
so you could see him and hold him. James and Noelle are so proud and so happy and wonderful parents. All your brothers and
sister miss their little brother as does your mom and dad, nieces, nephews, grandparents,aunts, friends and the
rest of the family. All of us that you left behind are doing better but there is not a day that goes by that you are
not on our minds and in our hearts, still 24/7. That will be a forever thing with us who was left on this earth
to try to live our lives without you and to cry for you until we see you again. There is a song that Kenny Chesney wrote called "Who you'd be today" that had
to be written just for you. Oh Cory Dale, it is so heartbreaking but so beautiful. Everybody who hears it has said the same
thing. It was written for you baby. Your Aunt Di put it on your website so everybody who hasn't heard it, can. Well son, I'm
going to go now, I just wanted to write you again after not being able to for so long. We love you Cory, always have
and always will, until we meet again. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU CORY DALE.
Mom and Dad
JUNE 07, 2007
Hey son,
Well, it's been four years today since you entered your Heavenly
home. Our Angel. How have we lived this last four years without you? Everyday we wonder how do we do it? How can we keep going
on without you? We do but it's the hardest thing we'll ever do in our life. We miss you Cory Dale. We love you Cory
Dale. Do you know how much? No, because you can't feel our pain which is a good thing I guess because with this kind of pain,
there is no cure or medicine to heal the hurt. We really need a hug from you right now and to hear you say, "mom, dad
I love you". We would give up our lives right this minute to see and hear your voice just one more time. Just one
hug and I love you from you. Just to touch your beautiful face and see that beautiful smile that lit up our lives. But
then I guess God knows if we ever saw you again, we would never let you leave our side, we would hold on so tight nothing
or no one would or could ever separate us again. Not even death separates our love for you and our missing you. We love and
miss you so, so very much baby son.
With all our love to you and for you,
Mom and Dad
6.07.07
It's been four years now. I think of you often. It comes out
of nowhere sometimes. The family misses you so much. Words sometimes aren't spoken anymore, but the
hurt is there. I never listen to country music, and honestly haven't heard this song since it was posted on your web
page. Today as I was driving, it started playing on the radio. i cried under my sunshades and had to
wonder why..... I was listening to rock and roll, but there it was. Caught me off guard, but then I knew.
God has his ways of speaking to us.
Aunt Di
06-09-07
Cory,
It's been so long since I have wrote you on here. It's now been 4 years that you have left us and have started
your new life in heaven. Oh how I wish you were still here. I had a break down today. Yesterday I was just mad because once
again I thought about that horrible day that I still just wish I would wake up out of a big dream but I was trying to find
somebody somewhere to blame and I just kept asking myself why? why him? why that day? why me? I still don't know any of the
answer to those questions but I will one day. I just have to keep telling myself you are in a better place. But today the
day after, it hit me just like it did 4 years ago and I do still miss you so much I keep telling people that I think
It's getting easy as the years go by but I don't believe that I think its just getting harder b/c I realize everyday that you
aren't coming back and i will not ever see you again until Its my time to go. I want to see
that beautiful smile, I want to feel your warm touch, I want hear you say to me I love you always and
forever but then I think I want get to do any of that...hear you say anything or see you anymore.
I know people always tell me not to think about things like that and to just think oh he is in a better place and he
is still with you but you know its really not that easy to think like that I want to but I will always think about if
it wouldn't have ever happened how would he be today but It will get better and I have enough faith to know I
will see you one day and until then I know you are with me. Yes i do miss you more and more everyday but i always feel
your present around me and I feel like I can still just look up in the sky and you are looking down on me but
until I do see you I will just have to see you in my dreams! And if that is the only way I can see you I wish I
could sleep 24/7. I love
you Cory so much. Please just stay with me. I miss you so much! I love you always and forever!
Robin
6-16-07
Happy Birthday Cory! I went to see you today! I put a Happy Birthday sign up and I left you some
flowers! I miss you so much I wish you were here so we could celabity your birthday!! We all miss you more then ever! But
keep watching over me and everyone down here! I love you always and forever!
Love,
Robin
HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY CORY DALE
Here are two poems for you baby, one from mom and one from dad. We love and miss you baby.
The greatest day of my life my child
was the day that you were born
The love you gave to me son
now helps this heart thats torn
I watched you grow and learn each day
As the years flew like a gentle breeze
Now if I could have you back again
I'd kneel and Pray on my knees
I didn't know our life together
would end only after a few short years
now my heart is sad and lonely
and my life is full of tears
I constantly think about you
not a day goes by that i miss
I cherish the memories we made
yet forever I'll always wish
That life had taken a different path
or that I could undo that last day
when I was given no warning
that you were going away
I
will always remember you
and the love we forever shared
I will always feel this loneliness
because of how much I cared
Now
you live in Heaven
and I'm still waiting for my time
When the Angels call my name
I will meet you at the front line
So
tomorrow on Fathers Day
I will cry as I always do
Because I'm a Dad whose heart hurts
For my loving son who left to soon
Daddy
My
Special Angel
There's a special Angel in Heaven
that is a very big part of me
It is not where I wanted him
But where GOD wanted him to be
He was here for a very short time
like a night time shooting star
and though he is in Heaven
he's never very far
He touched the hearts of so many
like only he could do
I would've held him every minute
If the end I only knew
So I send this special message
to Heaven up above
Please take care of my special Angel
and send him all my love
Mama
06/19/07
I was online one night a couple of weeks ago and came
across your website. I'm not sure what compelled me,
but
I started to read each and every sentence that was
written....by the time I was done, I found it hard to
breath....I
was so overwhelmed with compassion for
this boy and his family and friends that I had never
met, that it stunned me.
I have a 15 year old boy and
he truly is the light of my life and I cannot even
begin to imagine the heartache that
you and your
family have had to endure. I just wanted to let you
know that my heart goes out to you and even though
I'm
on the other side of the United States, please know
that you and your family are in
my thoughts and
prayers.
Jennifer Freeman
Stockton, CA
07-18-07
Wow! I haven't realized how long it has been since I have gotten on here. I try looking
at this site every once in awhile but it never worked for me cause I was typing in the wrong address. Duh Gina! Robin finally
gave me the correct one. Well, that was very overwhelming for me reading all those letters again. Gosh, I miss u buddy. I
recently lost another close friend this past Easter. It was a freak accident. He choked on a cough drop. God really works in mysterious ways though.
I haven't hung out with him in like several months prior to that and I happened to hang out with him that whole weekend. It
makes me feel better. Things seem to have gotten harder for me here lately. My birthday sucked AGAIN this year! I think it
always will. OH WELL! Its so strange to me thinking about how different my life could be if you were still here. I do miss
u like crazy. I love you alot too. U are such a special character. I actually saw ur mom not very long ago. I just love her.
She is just tons of fun. I miss not hanging out or even just chatting with Jason. He always brings so much joy to my life
like u always did. I just wanted to drop a line and let u know that I love u and it still seems very unreal to me to not have
u around.
Kisses-
Gina
Aug 02 2007
As I sit here in tears I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I felt such a connection with you and your son
Cory. As I read through all the wonderful things written about your son, I realized that God truly, truly, only takes
the very best and the most loved. You are a great mother still because even in his death, Cory is reaching our to people,
and that's because he had the greatest teacher -- you.
Love
Lori
Sept 03 2007
Hey sweet son,
I know it's been a while but your mom and dad have been busy so I am so sorry for
not writing you. We still think about you constantly and talk about you all the time. Your dad was watching a baseball game
the other night and he called me in there and said, "Karen, who does that look like to you?" I said "Cory Dale". He said
it gave him chill bumps he looked so much like you and it did look just like you. This young man was pitching and he was about
your age and his build, his looks and your dad pointed out even his sideburns looked just like you. Your dad and I both just
lowered and shook our heads because that could have been you on that mound. That was your dream and when, not if, but when
you made the big leagues your dad and I would have made every game. We would have moved with you just to be close to you.
Cory, we miss everything about you, do you know that son? I wrote to tell you that I saw Robin a while back and oh my gosh,
do I ever miss that sweet girl. I miss watching you and her wrestle, I miss watching you two laughing and talking and not
even knowing anyone else is in the world but you two and I even miss her hiding behind the door. That is a memory that will
always stay in my mind because I laughed so hard at you both. She is still as pretty as always and your dad and I can't see
her without picturing you right beside her. Same with John. We miss her and John's presence along with yours so much.
It gets so lonely around here without you, Robin and John. John text messaged me the other day and said "love you mom," and
said he and his girlfriend are coming to see us soon. Your dad saw John Friday and said he looked just like our John always
did. He was glad to see him. Jason came in Friday, he's been in Wisconson for the last 4 months and we were glad to finally
see him. Him and Christine are getting married March 8th. We are so happy for them. He bought her an engagement ring
and then proposed to her. Can you believe it? I'm so proud of him. Well, sweetheart I'm going to bed now, I just wanted you
to know you were on my mind as always and I just wanted to say we love and miss you so much. I love you always Cory Dale and
your always in my heart baby.
Love,
Mom
9-16-07
Hey Cory,
I love you and miss you very much. We all do. It has been a rough couple of days here. We lost your uncle Rusty
Friday. It is bringing back memories of when we lost you. Your parents are having a really difficult time. We all are. Times
like this really make losing you harder than it already is every day. Our pain never goes away. You are thought about, loved
and missed every day by your family and your friends. Your mom and dad really need your strength for the next few days. Your
grandparents and aunt Cissy too. I had surgery in July and of course your mother started to worry about 2 weeks before that.
Then one day she sent me an e-mail to tell me she had been sitting around worrying and all of a sudden you popped in her head
and she felt calm and knew right away that i would be okay because you were watching over me. She said it was the most amazing
feeling of calm and she told me she wasn't going to worry any more because i had you watching over me and she knew i would
be fine. Thank you for that. And thank you for all the joy you brought to everyone who was lucky enough to have you in
their life. I love you!
Aunt Debbie
Dear Cory Dale,
We love you sweetheart. Do you know how much your family misses you still, after all this time?
We will always miss and love you, every second, every minute of every day. We never dreamed we could live without
you for 4 years, but somehow we have managed. The pain is still just as intent as it was the day we lost you. I don't know
if I've ever told you, but the day we lost you was and will always be the loneliest day of our lives. It's so hard to explain.
We were surrounded by tons of family and friends, yours and ours, and everyone was there because of you, but it was the
loss of you that brought them there. That day, that devastation, the shock and the pain of our hearts being ripped apart will
forever be ingrained in our minds and hearts. That pain will always be with us until we see you again and we are waiting anxiously
to wrap you in our arms for eternity. We're writing you this now because as your dad and I write, there is
another very bad accident which will probably end up being a fatality in the same exact place you lost your precious life. We'll
go by there tomorrow to make sure your cross is still standing, We just Pray there will not be another one added next
to yours. Just like your accident, two young boys just about the same age as you were, maybe a couple of years older. We're
praying for them and their families just like we prayed for our family during our loss of you. God and knowing you were with
God is the only thing that has kept us going for the last 4 years. And now we are Praying for another loss, the loss of
your Uncle Russ on Sept. 14, 2007. We know in our hearts that you welcomed him into Heaven and you two
are together once again. Please tell Russ we love him and miss him too, just like we do you and Papa Billy Mack. The
Holidays are coming up and now there will be three losses. Our family is supposed to get bigger not smaller. Last year we
had a memory table set
up for you and your Papa, now it will be you, your papa and your Uncle Russ. We are thinking about leaving town during
Christmas, maybe
getting a cabin in the mountains somewhere just until the Holidays are over with. Well son, we are going to go to bed, we
just wanted you to know we are thinking about you and loving you and missing you constantly. We love you son. Tell Daddy D, Papa and Russ we love them too.
Dad and Mom
|
| Cory's phone message |
some 'um some'um..(click here)
"waz up...i'm not around, so 'um, leave me a little some'um
some'um and I'll holler back at ya.. bye"
|
