Courtney Saraya Lara

Today we gather to celebrate and remember the life of Courtney Saraya Lara, as a daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend, and a truly special soul. Our half-court— as Grandpa Gary called her, our Courti-Court, Quarters, and all of our Sunshine, was the light in any room. She brought a strong presence with her that changed the atmosphere for the better. While we grieve her loss, we know this is not a goodbye forever, just a temporary separation until we are reunited in the presence of the God Almighty, creator of all things.

Courtney Saraya was born on November 13, 1996 at Rancho Springs Hospital in Murrieta, California and raised in Hemet, California, where she built treasured family memories and lifelong friendships. She was a fighter since day one in her mommy's tummy, where at almost five months along, doctors had to take her out of her mom and set her and the amniotic sac on Debbie's tummy while they worked on removing a large mass so Courtney could have enough room to grow. With plenty of space to stretch out, Courtney was placed back into her cubbie and stapled shut! It was a joke that she had two birthdays, what a spoiled girl!

Her life was full of many absolutely INCREDIBLE memories, like riding quads, camping in Glamis, crazy Jeep rides rock crawling up hills, many many adventures going to Dad's gazillion softball weeknight games and weekend tournaments, traveling on wonderful vacations, including a Disney World Resort with a Disney Bahamas cruise and an Alaskan cruise, a helicopter flight over Las Vegas, modeling in magazines in LA, and enjoying countless backyard BBQs with sleepover pool days with many cousins and friends. Many of her family and friends were blessed to experience these exciting adventures with her.

At a young age, she had a personality that could light up a room. She was funny, silly, quick with a joke, and always knew how to make people laugh, even when she was struggling herself. If you needed someone to listen without judgment, Courtney was that person.

Courtney graduated from Hemet High School in 2014, where she made many life long friendships and even raised three pigs in FFA named Roost, Hamilton, and Diesel. She had the biggest love for her all of her animals, including labradors and the many litters of puppies she got to be apart of. She had no problem helping the mothers deliver their pups or giving IVs to save a litter. As she was a character herself, she raised her dog Galiahla to mimic her with a spoiled routine and following her wherever she went. Court's Lila was a wonderful therapist in Courtney's mental health. Her amazing, awesome childhood Labrador named Bo Gator Boy, was always there to comfort her on her worst days, and now he is able to comfort her again, along with the Hoogie Doogies Labradors who have gone before her.

One of the greatest challenges Courtney faced was her battle with Lyme Disease. It was a fight she carried for 16 long exhausting years, one that brought outrageous daily pain, anxiety, depression, and difficulties that many of us could never fully understand. Yet despite the pain she lived with, she continued to show up for the people she loved. She continued to smile, to laugh, to care, to listen, and to give pieces of her heart to others. This horrendous illness may have affected her body, but it never diminished her spirit.

Courtney’s greatest blessings in life were her family. She was the adored first born daughter of Tony and Debbie, who loved her beyond measure and stood beside her through every chapter of her life. She was also a proud and devoted big sister to Brittany Shaylin. Their bond was one built on love, laughter, life experiences, and the unique connection that only sisters share, this connection may have included one smothering with a pillow and a butter knife thrown across the living room. That’s just a part of sibling love only some will understand. Her cherished sweet baby sister would soon look up to her enough to want literally every single toy Courtney would pick up. Her mom would plead, "Just give it to her to shut her up! She will put it back down in three seconds anyways." Through all the sisterly cherished experiences and trials, Courtney was very proud of her sister’s accomplishments, and loved watching her grow up into the women she is today. She loved that her little sister also fighting this health issue, played softball like her Dad, graduated high school, went on to college and could fly airplanes! Courtney would often say, as we three battled this bio-weapon, Lyme Disease, that we have to live for Brittany. She felt, as we waited this nightmare out for a cure, we could support and live through Brittany until Courtney could start her journey on a career. She was grateful to have her Brittany.

In her later years, Courtney made a home in Prescott, Arizona, where she and her family created new memories together. Though the scenery changed from the place where she grew up, the things that mattered most to her never did: family, friendship, laughter, and love.

Her longtime friend, then boyfriend, Buddy Bordé, moved with her to Prescott, where they eventually got a nice apartment near town. Courtney spent a few years in retail and truly enjoyed working at Circle K meeting all kinds of characters. She didn't mind doing coworkers sidework because while she scrubbed the food machines at the end of the night, she would package up the hot food that was to be tossed... pizzas, rolled toquitos, hot dogs with all the fixings and hand it off to the group of homeless that hung around out back, and in return they would take the trash out to the dumpster. She loved this world she built. If she needed a ride from us, she would make us wait in the back ally parking lot, while she sat on the ground, as if she were homeless also, smoked a cigarette with her "friends" and socialize for a half hour to an hour, then waved us over to pick her up. She would roll down the window and yell out goodbye to them all. She truly was a special soul who actually genuinely cared for others who were down and out. Not knowing there was a crown in Heaven to earn for this type of heart, she no doubt has earned more than one crown on her head in Heaven. We all could follow her example to love God's children.

She then moved on to work a couple of years with her Dad, at Groome Transportation as a dispatcher. She embraced this job and loved working with the drivers, preparing their itinerary, writing silly notes on her Dad's lunch pail. Bonding with her Dad!

It is impossible to put into words the heartbreak of losing Courtney at only 29 years old. There were so many more memories to make, more laughs to share, and more moments that should have been hers. We grieve not only the years she lived, but also the years she deserved to have.

But today, as we mourn, we also celebrate a woman who showed resilience in the face of pain. A woman who chose kindness when life was difficult. A woman who made people laugh, who listened when others needed her, and who loved deeply.

Though Courtney’s time with us was far too short, the impact she made will last forever. Her laughter echoes in our memories. Her kindness lives on in the lives she touched. Her love remains in the hearts of her family and friends.

To Debbie, Tony, and Brittany: Courtney’s story does not end here. It continues through memories, every story retold and the new connections made because of her. The love you shared with her can never be taken away.

Courtney fought a hard battle, and now she can finally rest free from the pain she carried for so long. While our hearts are broken by her absence, we find comfort in knowing that her suffering has ended and that her beautiful spirit is finally at peace with the Lord. Our next chapter is a chapter of healing, strength and learning a life without her. We can do this through the lord as he gives us strength to get through each day. Isaiah 41:10 states “Fear not, for I am with you. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

Courtney, you were deeply loved. You are deeply missed. And you will be remembered always.