I am compelled to write on Corey’s blog to publicly thank all of you for Corey and myself. I wish Corey could write this as he was a far more articulate and creative writer. I will just have to hope the words come to me from him.
I have received such warmth, love and support from reading here as well as the personal emails, the flowers, the donations, the baskets of goodies, the pictures, YouTube tribute, chorus ensemble, teachers and mentors involvement, words and stories heard at Corey’s service, as well as those spoken privately or in cards.
Corey truly was one of the “beautiful” people, inside and out. He honestly surrounded himself with others, who in their own special way, belonged in the same class. There is not a lot written here that surprised me about him. I have always known his wonderful ways and qualities. The one surprise was his “sweet dance moves”. He never let on he was a dance machine. I was always waiting to hear it though as my family, the Dutton's, were always known to take over a dance floor. :)
Love for music was always in our household. In fact, I used to sing the James Brown “I Feel Good” song to him as an infant. By the time he was able to sit, he would rock back and forth, with a big smile ,to the rhythm of the song as I sang it:)
He also developed his predilection for storytelling at a young age. Our routine at bedtime was for me to give a “rub back”, as he called it, while we discussed his day. At the age of six, first grade, I was rubbing his back and he started to tell a story of his day. He described a flock of geese flying down into the schoolyard, causing the children to run and scream. The teachers did nothing. More flocks of geese came until the whole schoolyard was full of them, children freaking out, and now the teachers running and screaming too. I was sitting there replying “No! How horrible and scary…. Etc” He lead me on with this story for several minutes until it became so absurd I realized he had fabricated it. He turned his sweet face toward me, eyes twinkling with a huge smile, and then just laughed and laughed – making ME laugh. He could always make me laugh, and always did.
His favorite movie at about age two or three was “Mary Poppins” and I started talking with a British accent like Mary P. “Would you care for a spot of tea”, “spit spot” etc. His gift for accents came quickly and never stopped.
I need to specifically thank Mr. T, Ms. Lupe, Ms Weeks, and Ms. Eichholzer for being his mentors and teachers as well as his friends. Thank you Will, for creating this blog, Audrey for the YouTube tribute, Ryan Mooney and Jade Brewer for the awesome support and kindness as well as assisting with help creating his memory board. Thank you Jeri Ann for writing a beautiful and comforting song (performing May 12th at Cook Park), Erin for your lovely poem. Thank you J-Steve, Sam -Chan, Shane, Chris, C-Joe, Kayla, Gabby, Jeri-Ann, Sean, Joe, Anson, Will, Will, Ryan, Oscar, Tommy, Phillip, Gina, Elliott, Brianna, Olivia, Kyle, and numerous others. Thank you for your friendship. You made Corey a very happy person for knowing you.
Thank you Renate, Teresa, Paula, and families, Jenny, Ikey, Valerie, Phil, Ellen, Eileen, BC, Paul, Scott, Neil ,Janna, Bobby, Judy ,Rusty, Harry, Bibbs, Wanda and My Dad , my personal friends and family for being there for me, through it all. I thank all that I work with and used to work with for the support and generous gifts.
Corey’s best friend , John Twordowski – thank you for driving me around, coming to visit at any call and assuming Corey’s role in making me laugh. I have officially adopted you.
I always believed, and I still do, that I was brought to this world specifically to bring him into this world for his wonderful, nonjudgemental ways, creative talent and comedic loving nature. Apparently his gift to the world was completed, his impact felt and absorbed. I will miss him all my life and keep his memories as gifts from him. Please honor him, carry his memories and emulate his kind ways.
To everyone who has written the wonderful words here, I thank you. I feel Corey’s love for me through you.
Be kind to each other, live, laugh, love, sing – and get out and DANCE!
Love, Joy Dutton, Corey’s mom
PS I know I left some peoples names out. Please forgive me.
" Do not stand by my grave and weep, I
am not there, I do not sleep. I am a
thousand winds that blow, I am the
diamond glints on snow. I am the
sunlight on ripened grain, I am the
gentle autumn rain. When you awaken
in mornings hush, I am the swifter
uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled
flight. I am the soft star that shines at
night. Do not stand by my grave and
cry, I am not there, I did not die."
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