Mark Of Honor

By Correy's Dad

Tattoo for a friend, brother, son:

When Correy died, my life changed forever, I know as a lot of you will say, you have 2 other sons. I know that & I love them deeply & cherish every moment with them! It’s the loss that sometimes is unbearable; unless you have lost a child you really can’t fully understand so please don’t even try to think why we are not “over” this! You watch a child being born, raise him, play with him, watch him go all through life, then one day he’s gone! No do overs or second chances…!

What makes me proud & happy is to see so much attention about Correy after he died, everyone getting tattoos. I can understand his brothers, Preston & Jarred and Vanessa of course. To see people like Rachel & Grant getting permanent tattoos representing what they want about Correy just boggles my mind. It shows how deeply his friendships were, maybe none of us can comprehend what they are feeling but to have a forever marking of a memory is awesome & incredible, what a honor they bestow on Correy.

I know there are many more people planning to get tattoos of some type, just so you ALL know, WE are very touched & blessed to have you as Correy’s friends! Nothing can replace Correy himself but all this attention & honor makes living a little easier.

Thank You!

Meeting the source of inspiration (a forgotten tale)

Meeting the author that made the man

One of Correy’s favorite books, the tome which inspired him to his future career as Underwater Archaeologist, is Submerged:  Adventures of America's Most Elite Underwater Archeology Team. It was written by Dan Lenihan, the man who headed up the Park Service’s super team. I remember from years back Correy telling the tale of this team, and how he dreamed to be on it. It was scarcely the beginning of his diving career when this book caught his imagination. Anyhow, after Correy’s memorial, I stumbled upon the book in his very organized (Ha!) closet, and took it home to read. Being a non-diver with zero interest in archaeology, I too was inspired, but in a different sense. I was struck by the passion of the writing, the exactness of the descriptions, and the way it affected Correy.

So, on a whim (and as a bit of therapy) I wrote an old fashioned snail mail letter to the author, essentially telling him about Correy and how his book inspired him to do some of the great things he did, informing the kid’s choice of career. I mailed it off in September (to a Park Service address found online), if I recall, and never heard back… so I thought. Forget exactly when, but about 5 months later, I got a letter in the mail, brief, but noting that he got my letter and hoped my address was still current. Apparently he had since retired, but the Park Service never forwarded the letter. He gave me an email, and asked me to write him again soon.

I went down to Albuquerque in March for a medical adventure, and on a whim, emailed Dan (who lives in Santa Fe) suggesting maybe we should meet up. He was rather excited to do so, and we set it up. I drove the hour-plus up there on a free day, and we met over lunch. We talked small talk mostly at first, about his career, his books he wrote with his friend, Gene Hackman, his son’s crazy job adventures. Towards the end of lunch, and extending to iced tea at his family’s house for hours, we talked about Correy – his life, his dreams, his accident. I could tell Dan was very moved, very interested, very sad. He was also very impressed to hear of the diving accomplishments and skills Correy had at his age. Dan, being one of the early cave and deepwater divers, had lost several good/best friends diving, so he had been there too. We spent about an hour looking through the nearly 200 pictures of Correy I had collected onto my phone. He was especially impressed with Roy’s pics (no surprise) and the ones depicting him in technical diving gear, from which Dan said he could tell Correy knew his stuff.

It was hard to leave, really. He was a man who really understood why Correy wanted to do what he did, understood the drive and the passion, and helped me wrap my mind around it too. To meet the man who wrote the book that inspired Correy’s whole way of life, and to find him so thoughtful and understanding and openly honest, was really a fantastic (though melancholic) experience. 

We still keep in touch via email, and I am still waiting to read the dually signed book he gave me that he and Hackman wrote. Submerged is worth a read if you haven't read it. You can see Correy in almost every page.

Baseball with Correy

By Correys' Dad

Correy always was good in ANY sport he played, T-ball, soccer, Hell, even when we were camping we would play baseball with a pine tree branch & a pine cone, he would knock the pine cone out of the camp ground.

We use to take whiffle balls & a plastic bat camping but in a short time Correy would bang them ALL in the river never to be seen again.

We use to play baseball in the street out in front of our house, I’d pitch to Correy & he’s whack it a quarter of the street. He also smacked some solid ones into hoods or sides of neighbors cars, some neighbors are still living here & still have that car so they will remain nameless..Hi Rick!

Sometimes I’d get the baseball right in the chest, I think I still have bruises!!

When Correy played T-ball, once the other kids knew him, he would come up to bat & ALL the kids would run way out in the outfield & still it would go over their heads.

Playing soccer he always gave his ALL! For one team he was goalie & they dubbed Correy, “BIG DOG”, and gave him a hat to wear with “BIG Dog” on it!

I acquired for Correy a poster frame one day someone was getting rid of, it has a soccer goalie stretched way out knocking a ball from becoming a goal, Correy hung it on his wall in his room, it said,"To be a winner, ALL you need to give is ALL YOU have!" I pretty much think he ran his whole life that way!

Sometimes you think when you are playing with your children that it’s just passing time, but THEY REALLY enjoy it & remember it.

The last time I went camping with Correy we played pine cone baseball, he slammed me in the leg & laughed his head off, then reminisced about ALL the times we played together and even Ricks’ car dent!

Don’t ever cheat time with your children; you never know when it will come to an end!

Conversations by the pool

By Andrew Beck

When I went down to Cal Poly my contact with friends in San Jose became somewhat limited. Correy fell into this category, but he was also one of those types of people where just seeing him quickly closed whatever distance had grown in the absence of constant communication.

I saw Correy for the first time in many months back in February of 2009 over at one of the semester's first scuba diving classes at West Valley. It was good to see so many familiar faces in the instructors and some old friends who were assisting in the class. Correy walked over with a familiar "flop-flop-flop" sandal sound and offered a firm handshake and a smile framed by 3-day stubble. We chatted a bit and reminisced about our days in that same pool.

After about ten minutes of standing beside the pool and talking we brought up the status of relationships we were in. I had a long relationship end 4 months before in October, and although a significant period of time had passed since it had ended, it still haunted me in many ways. I had given myself a limited period of time to talk about it with friends and family, but after that period passed I no longer felt comfortable airing out my feelings and decided to move on with it silently. I vaguely brought it up the relationship to him as he had also known my ex for some time, and we joked about the whole thing for a while.

Correy talked about a recent relationship of his had ended as well, and we talked about the details of that and laughed some more. Neither of us had seen each other in a while, and neither of us seem inclined to bringing up anything serious.

That was until Correy surprised me. We both got quiet after a laugh and stared out at the steam rising off the heated pool, both of us with our hands in our pockets. I saw him give a faint smile out of the corner of my eye. "It hurts, doesn't it," he said quietly and then looked over to lock eyes with me. I stared back at him, quiet for a moment, and then admitted, "Yeah. Yeah, it does." I remember breathing deeply and then both of us launched into a lengthy conversation about how each of us were doing and what had happened for us both.

I distinctly remember that being the first point that I felt I was beginning to heal. That conversation beside the pool, the frankness about how it could all still haunt and hurt coming from someone else who felt the same thing, especially from someone who I don't recall opening up that much during our friendship, I remember it all. He was a quiet man but there was never any doubt that there was a abundance of deep thought going on behind that head of his, and it really showed that night. It was a rare moment of openness, honesty, and empathy that in hindsight I believe I desperately needed at the time.

Ryan Seacrest?

by Marisa Castro
(in picture left-right: Matt, Mike, Correy, Laura, Marisa and Leanne)

I met Correy at Santa Teresa through Melissa (Norman) and he and I took two classes together our senior year. He is truly one of the most remarkable people I have ever met and I feel blessed to have known him. He always had a smile on his face and kept things interesting in class - which was much appreciated as most of the lessons were repetitive. Plus it didn't really matter what our government or econ teachers were saying as Correy would stretch out in front of me and completely block the board, explaining to me: "Marisa, it doesn't matter that you can't see the board because you already know this stuff. This way my back and your brain can rest comfortably." This is typical Correy conversation and i cherish all the one's we've had, which regrettably have been less in the past year.

Correy is the kind of friend in which months can pass and then one day you read/write an email and pick right up where the conversation ended. But most of my fondest memories are hanging out in person at one of our friends houses, whenever I would return to visit San Jose.

Correy is a pillar of support to so many people and a wonderful listener. Last summer - I still can't believe it was a year ago - I was struggling to decide on if I should change career plans going into my senior year of college. It was incredibly hard for me to admit that I might be on the wrong path. Correy simply listened to my concerns - at a party no less - and gave me the simplest advice: :do what makes you happy. You're smart and can do anything so you might as well do something you enjoy." Correy is remarkable in his ability to be deep and caring, and then turn around and make you laugh so hard you cry.

My favorite memory of Correy is from our econ video project senior year of high school, in which Correy played Ryan Seacrest (who was eating during the entire shoot because Correy wanted to see Ryan eat something) and a man who had identity theft from a young girl shopping for shoes. It makes much more sense when you see them in person. Both roles were great.

I pray for Correy daily and believe he is in Heaven. While he is not physically here I will always carry his memory with me, as I'm sure everyone who ever met him does too. Correy will always be my friend.

Correy/Monastery Beach 1 year later

By Correys Dad

Today, August 20th, 2010, 1 year since Correy died, I spent the morning at Monastery Beach, sitting, watching the waves crash ashore. Correy's entire life flashed through my head as each wave rolled in another year of his life passed.
I remember the day he was born, right through teaching him to ride a bike. Playing baseball in the street to teaching him to shoot a gun, the memories flashed by.
Our camping/fishing trips to the Sierras and Correy helping me search for missing people. The last Opening Day Fishing Season where it snowed, Preston, myself & Correy braved the cold temperature & snow storm just to camp out on a family tradition. Correy did the Captain Morgan pose. Watching Correy teach children to scuba dive at Monterey Bay Aquarium, you remember when he himself was that young, now he's the adult teaching kids his favorite hobby. Watching him go through kindergarten,through grade school, junior high, high school, junior college, then off to a State University, it ALL happened so fast. Correy starts dating girls, then finally finds the one, Rachel, his life is coming together. His priorities are straight, going to school, working at Any Water Sports & on the Cypress on weekends. I still remember coming home from a job a year ago and Vanessa telling me Correy had died, I was numb, I don't think it really sunk in until now, I always thought he would be back, his smiling face, his quick comebacks & his perseverance. Trying to make sense of the whole thing is bewildering, he was well trained & with the BEST OF THE BEST, Frank & Scott, he always had quality gear. So many people sit & don't do anything in life, Correy was truly making an impact on many, many people, he was on track. He had money in the bank, a career path, a great woman at his side, he knew where he was headed. The waves keep crashing ashore yet the future memories just are not there. The pounding surf now reminds me of an old record player where the record that's finished playing, yet the needle keeps making the same ending sound. The waves are haunting & endless but Correy's life has come to an end...TRAGIC!!!!!!!!!

Wish I could tell him

You will find other stores from Andrew in the future but this is a small part of one he sent to us last year and I am trying to get a few posted today.

by Andrew Beck

Writing that piece (pirates story) is about the closest thing I've come to being able to fully talk about his passing, and I don't think I'll ever truly comprehend the massive effect he's had in shifting my life to a course I can be proud of.

He has become an insurmountable inspiration to behold and understood what it means to be a man, even if he wasn't so outwardly sure of himself. In my daily life, I find myself often holding my tongue when I feel I want to say something hurtful or remain calm when I don't feel like I have patience because I think to myself, "Correy wouldn't do this." And more than anything, he taught me about loyalty. He was the only person I knew whose loyalties knew no bounds. I've had others tell me of when they were left all alone by friends who had left them behind, Correy was the sole person to stand his ground by their side proudly. And seeing that kind of loyalty in action has changed so much for me. He has set me back on a path to become a person I can be happy with staring in the mirror, and I can't count how many times I have wished I had realized that when I could tell him all about it over a beer.

My friend Correy

Melissa sent this to us on September 13, 2009 and I just couldn't get through it then to post it. I will try now.

by Melissa Norman
(pictured: Correy, Matt and Melissa)

Correy is my protector and always has been. AS the only girl in a group of guys I was the common target of mockery; but let's be honest, I was really easy target. While sometimes Correy participated in their favorite activity of making fun of me, he also stood up for me. If any of the other guys ever said anything and I just gave Correy a look or said his name, he would come to my rescue. Sadistically I enjoyed that Mike kind of feared him even though he was bigger and Matt would always flinch prematurely knowing Correy would actually hit him. After a while Correy started to teach me some of his martial arts tricks so I could challenge Matt as well as he could. I don't know if you know about either one of these, but the two main ones he showed me were the nail trick and the thumb trick. He was my protector in life and I know he'll continue to be.

Though I'm sure if he were around to deny it, he would sure try, but Correy had narcissistic tendencies. Specifically in high school, if there was a reflective surface within his vicinity, his reflection would show up on it. I don't think there was a night at Matt's house when the sliding glass doors didn't get a glimpse of Correy's abs.

Correy was such a kleptomaniac, especially when my purse was around. I'm not saying he would steal things ever, but any chance he got with the turn of my head, my keys would have disappeared to his pocket, my phone would magically have a picture of him as my screensaver, and there would be an impromptu, myspace style photo shoot ready to view on my camera. Every time we got together I know it was coming but I never caught him in the act. The last time I saw him back in July, I had just gotten my new phone and he did it again. So his picture is still my background and I found out when I had to turn my phone off and on to come on the plane home for the funeral that he changed the greetings message to "Hola bitches." Crazy kid.

Correy is one of those guys that touched everyone who met him with his beautiful smile, bright blue eyes, and unmistakable laugh. Over the past few years, after I left for school, we didn't get to spend as much time together as we used to or talk as much as we previously had. But we always got together at least once every time I came home to sit at the exact same table at the Starbucks on Snell and Santa Teresa. It was those times with him that I enjoyed the most because we went from not talking for months to picking up exactly where we left off like it had been only five minutes. It was there that we acted as faux therapists for each other, where we shared things that we didn't share with other people, and where he got to laugh at me on multiple occasions when I spilled hot chocolate in my lap. I think the hardest part about theses memories is that we were supposed to get together before I moved down to LA in the beginning of August because he told me he had stuff he needed to talk to me about. Unfortunately, something came up for him on the night we were supposed to get together but we made plans for Thanksgiving weekend. I think I'll always wonder about what it was he wanted to tell me, but I know he really was looking forward to telling me about Rachel, and though the circumstances were not in anyway ideal, I was glad I finally got to meet her because he had wanted me to.

I already posted on the blog about the baking cookies story, but there are so many other things that will always make me think of him. I don't know if any of them compare to Correy-memory-items of your lives but I thought I'd share mine. Here are some things in my life that always make me think of Correy, but even more so now; nude beaches (as he decided that would be a good place to take our little group of friends on the day when the wind wanted to blow sand that hurt, and the lone naked man was laying in the middle of the beach), baking and cookies (as mentioned online), whipped cream (from last Thanksgiving when he attacked Matt with half the can and put the other half into his mouth at one time), ripped jeans (because Correy used to wear these light blue jeans that had a hole in the crotch and would sit with his legs wide open because he thought it was funny), worn down shoes (as I had to beg him time and time again to buy new sandals because the ones he wore didn't stay together and had holes in the bottom), Natalie Portman (because both he and Tony are OBSESSED), country music, and his farting contests with himself. I don't think anyone will ever forget those.

The first time I met Correy was sophomore year in high school in our PE class. The only thing that I really remember about that year was that he constantly talked about turkey, in any form, would tell me he was going to soccer every day (even though he was actually going to martial arts), and how I would always see him, Matt and Tony playing games on their calculators at lunch. We bonded over writing and a love of country music and my unquenched curiosity that existed with me asking questions and him weasling out of answers (most of the time). He is a great man and I am so proud to be his friend. I will miss him so much, as I'm sure many people will. I went though all of my things once I got back to LA after the funeral and became thankful for my packrat tendencies. Correy and I were penpals for the first few years we were in college, and after reading through his letters, I was able to see how his life and goals progressed. They began right when Correy first signed up for scuba, before he developed his passion for it, where his career goals were at first uncertain, then he wanted to be a doctor/anthropologist like Bones, until finally he decided upon wanting to combine anthropology and scuba. I also found my old yearbooks and found what he wrote; he definitely had a way with words and wrote beautifully. One of my favorite things I found was a "diploma" he made me a few years ago. It has an honored spot on my wall, as it always has, though now it has an even more special meaning.

Correy was, is, and will always be one of my favorite people and I know his memory will live on in minds and hearts of all the people who love him as much as you do, and I do, and the boys do.

Burritos

I had a dream last night... it was a dream of your silly faces that you always made at me - flashing in and out, in and out. It probably went on for a good couple hours (but only seemed like a few seconds). It was nice to see your smile, again. I miss you buddy!

I remember the time you called me up at work and asked if I wanted Chipotle. I absolutely wanted a burrito, but only because you would come to see me in action (I actually had already eaten). When you showed up you had that silly "well here I am" look, with two paper bags in hand! It was funny. Mom hadn't eaten yet, and I knew it... so I pretended to give Correy a hard time for not thinking about bringing one for mom and gave her the bigger half of mine. Correy felt much better then that I did that.

I later told him I had already eaten, but I hadn't seen him in a while... since he was always working and diving and going school now-a-days. I was happy to have spent time with him that day, just joking and being the Correy and Ashley that we were.

Oh....I wanted to tell you a little story that happened on Correy's birthday.

by Heidi Haggard Moorefield


I was having lunch with my friend Debbie and was telling her about Correy's story after seeing the posting for his birthday that morning. And this little boy who looked just like Correy did when he was three came running up to our table and just looked at me with his big blue eyes, big smile, all teeth and said "Hi". His mom calls him back to their table, she says, "Corey, leave those people alone and get back over here". Well I just about fell out of my seat, because THAT little boy looked like the spitting image of your Correy, it just gave me the chills all over. I just had to share that with you....I thought it was pretty cool. I know Correy did not know me, but I think he knows that I care. I almost felt like that was a sign to let me know he knows that. :)

He wrote