Corey Lee Roper

Corey Lee Roper, lovingly known as Bubba, was a remarkable son, brother, friend, and truly unforgettable young man.

To me, Corey was so much more than my son. He was my soul.

Corey was funny, incredibly smart, and unbelievably goofy. He had a way of making us laugh even when we probably didn't want to. He always had a joke, a new idea, or something he had discovered that he couldn't wait to show me. He was constantly learning, creating, imagining, and finding something new to be passionate about.

Corey loved taking things apart to see how they worked. Every new invention or idea seemed to spark his imagination, and he was always thinking about what he could build or create next. He was even working on ideas for his own body armor. Sometimes he took things apart and actually managed to put them back together—which, as his mom, I learned to appreciate.

Corey dreamed big. He had so many plans for his future that he was already trying to figure out how to fit them all into one life. He dreamed of EMS training, tactical training, rescue training, becoming a firefighter, joining the Air Force, and learning welding. He was passionate about so many things because he found so much to love about life. He was curious about the world and excited about what he might discover next.

Some of my favorite memories of Corey are the silly little traditions that made him him. One of those was our family game of “Vampir.” It was a tradition the three of us shared—Corey, his older sister, and me. Whenever we hugged, someone would say “Vampir,” and we'd immediately try to bite each other's neck. It was ridiculous, goofy, and probably drove his older sister crazy sometimes—but it was ours. It was one of the ways we loved each other.

Corey and his sister also shared so many things together. They could bond over video games, starting a new craft, getting excited about an upcoming Comic-Con, or planning for Halloween. Corey absolutely loved Halloween. He loved dressing up, creating costumes, and embracing everything that made the holiday fun. He also loved Comic-Con and the excitement of having something new to look forward to.

Corey was also deeply loved by so many friends. He formed meaningful friendships not only in the world around him, but also through the online gaming community that became such an important part of his life. He was close to his friends and cared deeply about the people he connected with. His gaming community was more than just people he played games with—it was a community of friendships, laughter, shared interests, and memories that meant a great deal to him.

And then there was the Fourth of July—one of Corey's favorite holidays, largely because his mom would let him play with fireworks. That adventurous, curious, slightly mischievous side of him was always there.

When I think of Corey, I don't want to think only about the day I lost him. I want to remember the boy who was always dreaming, always creating, always learning, always joking, and always coming to me with something new he wanted to show me.

I want people to know how amazing he was.

I want them to know how much he loved life, how many dreams he carried, and how passionately he wanted to experience the world.

I want them to know my Bubba—the goofy boy who could make me laugh, the smart kid who was always figuring something out, the brother who drove his sister crazy and loved her fiercely, the friend who built meaningful connections wherever he went, and the son who will forever be a part of my heart.

Corey leaves behind more love, memories, laughter, dreams, and stories than words could ever contain.

He was deeply loved during his life, and he will be deeply loved for the rest of ours.

Our Bubba. My son. Her brother. My soul.

We will love and miss you always and forever, Corey Lee.

He leaves behind his loving Mother, Sister, Father, Family and his wonderful friends (both real life and online)