Cory Thomas Block - Online Memorial Website

I knew Cory....as a baby...and as a young man....I wish I had spent more time with him, andrea, and loving them.  I am lucky though, because there were days...actually every day, that that baby warmed my heart, made me smile, and touched my very soul.  His mother always will.  I love her, and I've loved her for what seems a lifetime.  How I wish I could trade my last breath to take away her pain.  God Bless you and keep you always Cory and family.  Love, Laura xoxoxoxo

How can anyone sum up such a wonderful life with just one memory?  None of us can, but together we can try.  It's taken me many tries here, I've started and just couldn't finish - maybe this time will work.......

I will always remember Cory coming out to visit with us whenever we went to Pizza Hut for dinner - not just a 'Hey, how ya doin'?' and then move on - but a 'belly up to the table' and have a conversation with us.  Always polite, and ever the gentleman.

One time, however, Torri and I went in for pizza, and I commented to her - "Cory must not be working, he hasn't come out to visit" - but when she went to pay the bill, he was in the back, cooking.  Well, I HAD to harass him as we left - telling him, 'yeah, I see how you are, don't come out and say hey'..........And, in true Cory fashion - sweet talked his way out of it!!

The next time I saw him after that, it was Scott's 40th birthday party, and I continued to tease him about it.  He took it all in stride, and swore to me that he would never again let such a thing happen!!

I had to leave that party early, unfortunately, as I had to work.  But Andrea - being the ever generous host that she is - INSISTED I take a plate of food with me.  Included in what I took was THE TASTIEST bbq chicken I've ever had (and I really don't even like bbq).  I called her a couple of days later to tell her how much I enjoyed it, and she told me Cory had done the BBQ'ing.

The last time I saw Cory, I was in Wal-Mart - at the end of an aisle - and from the very opposite end of the aisle behind me, I hear "JANI VERGA", so I turn to see Cory striding right up to me, giving me a HUGE hug, and telling me, "I don't want to hear you saying I didn't say "hi" ever again!!  I laughed and told him all was forgiven, and I would never tease him again.  He said something about his mom telling him I liked the chicken, and then we said goodbye.........

That is my last memory of Cory, and I'm happy to have it - and hopefully sharing it will shed just a little light on what a beautiful person he was.

 

 

Cory and didn't always get along very well, but when we did, it was so great.  I loved laughing with him and joking around.  He was such an all-around fun guy.  The weekend before his accident, he asked me to drive him to the bar.  I gave him "the look" and he got a big grin on his face, saying, "I'll buy you McDonald'sssss!!!"  Finally, after a little bit of coaxing, I gave in, but only if we took his car.  (I didn't want to waste MY gas!!)  When I dropped him off, he was all excited and told me that I had to drive home listening to a song on his IPod that he LOVED!  I listened to it, but I don't think I was really paying attention.  At around 2 a.m., he called me to pick him up Dan's house.  I got right in the car and drove over there...and waited...and waited...and waited.  I was freezing and really NOT happy.  Finally, at 3:05, he strolled out to the car like there was no problem and we pulled away.  He seemed very paranoid and it made me laugh to make him squirm like he was.  At the corner, he said, "Hang a right...we're going to McDonald's!"  As I was pulled into McDonald's, he looked me in the eye and said, "You get whatever you want...I don't care how much it costs."  He told me he was getting dessert.  I pulled up to the speaker and ordered my food and he asked for a McFlurry.  The lady told us that they didn't have any McFlurrys at 3 a.m. and he then ordered a shake.  They didn't have those either.  Let me just say...he was a very unhappy camper.  He then asked if they had ANY desserts.  The lady checked and came back with another "no".  Finally, he gave in and ordered a meal.  The total came to $7.90. "Good," he said, "because I only have 8 dollars!"  I was like, "Cory, what if I would have ordered more??"  He was like, "We would have made it work."  I just shook my head and laughed.  When we got our food and were pulling out of McD's, he thought I was going to run over this guy walking down the sidewalk (keep in mind, I was in the FAR lane).  Then he started rambling on about how the guy was on his way to the institution, because "they hold the key to the straightjacket".  He held his finger up so matter-of-factly as he said it.  I started to say something when he interrupted me, saying, "You drive..........I'mmmmmm the entertainment!" 

Other funny quotes of the night:

"What the H***, it's like freakin' Doctor Doolittle in here!!"

"You better watch out, we don't want any catdogs runnin' around!  Which would be unfortunate, since you're both male."

"Ashley, I can't go to sleep tonight.  Look at the cat and dog and the squirrel over there...they're conspiring against me...what if they kill me in my sleep??"  (The squirrel wasn't even real...it was a picture on our kitchen rug.)

 

Cory was always the life of the party.  His joy in life was making people smile and laugh.  I will miss his voice and the way he did things, but I will never lose the memories that I have of him.  I hope that every time you hear "Dude looks like a lady" by Aerosmith, you will think of him and nod your head along with the beat.  I will end this with one final quote:

 

"My opinion on this song is, sexy never left!!"

I worked with Cory at Pizza Hut up to this last July when I quit to go to another job. He was such a joy to work with. He always had a way to make you laugh. I remember the time he tried to show us how to spin a wine bottle. I never did get it and he made it look so easy. I loved how when he got embarrased his ears would turn red....so funny! Us girls loved to razz him alot! He thought and knew he was the **** when it came to waitering. He balanced a tray on his fingers (not his hand) and never spilled a thing...except for that one time...! He was a gentleman and a normal dirty-boy at the same time. Polite to elders and COOL to the young people. A great example for how a guy should act. Very well mannered.You should be proud at how well you raised him. He was willing to help you out if you needed it. There were many nights he stayed late to help me get my stuff done so I wasn't there until midnight. I'm glad I got the privalage to work with him and get to know him. I will miss him, but never forget him!

There are so many great memories I have of Cory. He truly was a remarkable friend and I 'm gratetful of the many times that I had with him. The things that stick out most about Cory was what a gentelman he was to all his friends, especially the women; he did have a way with the ladies. He would come into a room and light it up with his witty comments, beautiful smile, and that funny face he would make with his touge sticking out on the side. You could never be in a bad mood when he was around.  I use to tease him when he would show up for work at "Cory time" which was always 10-15 minutes late. He would always stroll in with a huge smile that you couldn't resist and a chuckle about being late. Cory was such a thoughtful friend. The times that he was heading to Midland, or back to Bad Axe, he would call me to see if I was home and if I was, he would make sure to stop by and see me. The memories I have of us hanging out together just watching TV, chatting, going out to eat (which we LOVED to do), going to the fair, or just talking on the phone, will be treasured memories that I will keep forever. Not single day goes by that there isn't something that I hear, smell, or see that reminds me of him. I like to think that's his way of letting me know that he will always be with me! He will be greatly missed and truly LOVED! 

Cory was one of the first kids I  ever babysat and the first and only I ever spanked.... with tears in my eyes after I did it he looked down at me from the top of his bunk bed with his little grin and said "was that supposed to hurt"?  I did not know wether to continue crying or bust out in laughter. 

 

I have so many wonderful memories of Cory growing up.  Walking him to school in the morning, all the after school homework, fun trips to the park, the endless games we played, boy scouts, hockey, track meets.  I am honored to say I was able to spend so much time with him while growing from the fun loving child he was to the handsome young man he became. 

There is not a single time over the years when I ran into Cory that he did not embrace me with a warm hug.  He was so full of love and life.  All these memories I will cherish..........and until we meet again you will forever be in my heart. 

I'll never forget the time Cory spent hours at home building up a team for Madden. He came over to play Dan and insisted he was going to smoke him. Dan knew he would probably lose, so he cheated and built a team up to 100%. He made it look believable, and Cory was so mad. He just couldn't understand it. Dan didn't tell him for a few days either.  Cory was great.  He used to make me laugh so hard I thought I might possibly pee myself! Who could forget the little things you could say that would make him turn so red he could light up a room! I miss our arguments over petty things at work. We always butted heads at work, but we were over it in a minute and buddies again before the end of the night.  At poker night, Cory would zone into his own world with his ipod. Until of course, he heard sometihing about sports or something else that caught his ear, and he would have to join in on the discussion.  Cory was going great places! He was a charmer and ladies man.  I can't even begin to tell all the stories that he told of his many women!! He is loved by many.  He just had that something special about him that would touch anyones heart! May you rest in peace Cory! You will never be forgotten!

Cory and I had a respectful yet playful relationship. We both loved to rattle each others cage and talk alot of S**T to each other.

One memory that sums up our relationship is one night after forgetting his cell he came home just in the middle of dinner. Seeing he had better things to do than eat with his family ( girls  ) he just grabbed a quick sandwich. I had suggested he have some tater tots which he declined. I insisted but yet again he declined.

So Cory proceeded to get in his car and start pulling out of the driveway. I chased after him with a handful of tots and threw them splattering them all over his windsheild. Cory took it in stride graciously waving his middle finger at me.

 

 

 I'll miss moments like that  =(

 

I remember at Uncle Brian and Aunt Tammy's wedding, Cory and I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house to use the bathroom.  As we were about to come back, it started pouring outside just as we lit up a couple of cigars.  We rushed into the barn next to the house, avoiding wet clothes and ruined cigars.  While waiting for the rain to subside, Cory and I talked for awhile, touching on various subjects.  Now I look back on the memory and wonder if God was allowing me a last chance to hang out with my older cousin.  I never would have thought that the unfortunate event would become a cherished memory.  What I would give now to be back in the barn, puffing a cigar with my cousin.