Katie Sheep remembers Joey

Joey,
At times like this I never know what to say and always seem to say the wrong thing. I guess the most important thing to say is that I love you and will always miss you!

Looking back it makes me think of all the memories, whether we were 11 or 21, there are so many to choose from. We all grew up together. Just thinking about the middle school relationships, 8th grade drama performances, school dances, basketball games, weekend parties while the parents were away, cheering for you and the other boys at your baseball games, the bus ride down to Disneyland, the night before, the day of and the day after graduation, park fete, Halloween, and all the other fun times make me miss you. It makes me think of how many more we could have shared.

Throughout the years you have always been an amazing friend. We would always have our "talks". I think they started in middle school and then continued in high school when we would walk back from lunch talking about any news or drama we needed to catch up on. I still remember one day where you just looked at me and said, “Katie, it’s time for a Joey and Katie talk.” Even after high school you were one of the only people I kept in touch with. I would get so excited when I was down in Huntington and I would still get phone calls from you and we would be able to catch up on everything like nothing changed.

We didn’t get as many opportunities to see each other the last couple years but the times we did were always fun. It was always a good time with you. I loved that we could talk and stay close throughout the years. You were such a special person and one of the best guys I knew, I now that sounds lame but it’s true. There was no one like you. You could always put a smile on everyone’s face, especially mine and had a way of making everyone feel like they were special to you.

I still remember how special I felt when you would call and take me to lunch or invite me out for your birthday dinner at Stockton Joe’s (and of course you would never let me pay). That was just how you were, very traditional. You learned that from your parents. You really looked up to them and idolized the life they have together. It made you the person you were. You were sincere, respectful, loving, caring, considerate, honest, and really just a genuinely good person.

You were always the life of the party and I could never get mad at you. Even when you would do something I didn’t necessarily love, I would just have to laugh and say, “come on it’s Joey”, because it was. You had a way of making everyone fall in love with you. You had such an impact on so many people’s lives. The lives you touched will always be better for knowing you, and we are all lucky to say we did. I know I will never forget you or the memories we had together.

Love you always,

Katie Sheep