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riends pass through our lives leaving an indelible mark on us. We relocate, change jobs, or just drift away. But memories of our friends stay with us. Sometimes we lose friends through their passing — too soon they are no longer with us. But still we hear their voices, see their smiles and remember great times. All of us who travel the road, those of us who write about it and enjoy the world of Route 66, have lost a wonderful friend. Cheryl Cory, a friend to hundreds, if not thousands, along the highway, passed away at age forty-six, May 18 from injuries sustained in an auto/pedestrian accident.
Cheryl e-mailed me on the 17th of May saying she had been involved in an auto/pedestrian accident, but assured me, that outside of a few bumps and bruises, she was all right. The following day, Cheryl passed away from complications caused by the accident.
Cheryl was a person who loved the places and the people of the road.
Many of us shared in the Cory’s travels. When she and her husband Earl made their annual trek along Route 66, Cheryl e-mailed progress reports about ice storms in Texas, hot weather in Needles, and great places to eat. She told us about things that made her electronic journal breathe life.
Like a kid during Christmas. Cheryl took joy in finding old alignments and driving or walking them. Her collection of vintage postcards of road locations was complimented by updated views of the same locations. The Cory Collection has graced the pages of this magazine many times and when we were in a bind for a vintage shot, chances were always good that Cheryl had just the image we needed.
During this years’ Arizona Fun Run, Cheryl became our on-site reporter, when, during a live broadcast on the Williams based KATE-FM Radio, she called in to report on the activities taking place in Seligman.
Many times, we would go out for a simple dinner and wind up closing the place three or four hours later because we were discussing her favorite topic - the highway and the people of the road. Her infectious laugh, humor, and love of The Mother Road could turn anyone into a Roadie.
Life is fleeting at best, but when we suddenly lose someone like Cheryl it makes it all seem even more so — and at the same time we question more than ever the fairness of death.
It is with our loving memories of Cheryl Cory that we dedicate this issue of Route 66 Magazine.
Cheryl darlin’ you were one of a kind, and we all remember you with love, a pain in our heart, and many thanks for sharing your life with us.
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Above: Earl and Cheryl Ann Cory. Cheryl was born May 5, 1955 in Salt Lake City - the daughter of John and Anita Thornpson Funk. Cheryl was educated in Layton. Utah. She served five years in the U.S. Army. Cheryl and Earl were married 0n May 4, 1985 in Hollister, California. When not traveling Route 66, the Cory’s had lived in Montana and Wyoming the past four years.
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