2003, Tri-Valley Middle School, East Washington Street, Downs, IL, USA
7th Grade Volleyball with Carly
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I was lucky to grow up knowing Carly. I remember how much joy she had and that she seemed fearless to me. We reconnected a few times when we both lived in Champaign and it was so nice to catch up. There is something so special about growing up with someone in a small town. It makes this loss incredibly difficult and I’m praying for comfort and peace for her family and friends.
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Oh my sweet friend. Words will never be able to describe this feeling. This world is less bright without Carly. Growing up together was an incredible blessing. From our nights out her bedroom window stargazing to making altered books to working our first jobs (outside of detassling) at Subway together to all those times in her Alero and countless more. She made everything better with her contagious smile and personality. I'm not surprised by all the comments and love here because she truly was one of a kind and impacted everyone she met in a beautiful way. I can't wait to see you again my sweet friend. I love you so much 💛
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I had the privilege of getting to know Carly first as her client, many hours at a time spent sitting in her chair, talking about life and exchanging stories. The person I came to know was such a bright light and genuine human being, full of such light, and love, and laughter. She filled the world with her creativity and her unique art… and her one of kind smile and “Hiiee”. I am honored to carry a piece of her with me through her tattooing. Sending so much love to her and to all who loved her!
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I’m shocked and deeply saddened by this news. My heart goes out to Carly’s family and friends. I picked Carly as my stylist from the Kane & Co website because she looked so friendly and fun and it said that she liked to cut short hair. What a lucky choice! She has been the best stylist I’ve ever had and an absolute joy to talk to and share stories with. I will miss her so, so much.
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This still doesn’t feel real. I went to high school with Carly and became friends with her through Bekah Benjamin (Pinson)—so many of my memories of her involve them both. As her friends and family have mentioned her stories were the best and her laugh/smile unforgettable. I am no where near as fashionable as Carly was, but I won’t forget the Homecoming where we wore the same red polka dot dress! Bryan has also been a close friend of mine growing up—I send my love and support to him, Bekah, the Benjamin/Pinson family and all of the wonderful friends she connected with over the years. To know Carly was a privilege and I hope to pass on her positive/fun vibe throughout my life. Thank you Carly for your friendship.
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Carly was truly everyone’s best friend (not my words but sooo true). I feel so lucky to have memories with her from the past years. Getting older sucks but I truly thought it was nice to run into you bc you always welcomed with open arms. Carly you’re the true light and glue to this world it seemed. Loosing you hasn’t been the greatest. But knowing that you’re at peace helps. But I know I’ll see you again.
Love you soo much Carly and forever.
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I was lucky enough to meet and interact with Carly in CU at both The Rec Club and at Benny & Kay. Hillary does my hair so I shared some chats with Carly during the salon appointments and was privileged enough to work with Carly in some original and flash tattoos. I’ll never forget Carly’s unique voice and cadence. She had an ethereal quality to her and was truly of another world. I loved listening to her talk about her adventures and her start in tattooing and hair. She was so talented, kind, warm, bubbly and funny. It is abundantly clear by the outpouring of love and tributes to Carly just how special she was and how she made the people in her life feel. She will be so greatly missed by so many and this community will feel the impact of her absence.
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I have memories hanging with Carly while our older brothers were playing sports together. We were young, maybe 8 or 9. She didn’t think it was uncool to hang out with someone younger than her, which was awesome for me. I admired Carly and her way of having fun anywhere we were. I have a specific money playing in an arcade together. Although we had no money we let our imaginations go while pretending to play the games. She was a light to the world even at a young age and her light will keep shining.
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Got a flash tattoo from Carly a few years ago on a whim, and there’s a reason I kept coming back to her for more tattoos. She was a joy to talk to and hangout with for those few hours and created such a fun, welcoming environment. Her art was beautiful and representative of her beautiful soul, and I’m honored to have her art on me. She will be dearly missed.
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Sharing on behalf of our friend Emily Fultz
Bright Light:
Never Extinguished,
Only Refracted —
To be (or not to be)
everywhere
at once —
with you always
Energy everlasting
Simply changing form
“The Current Has Us Now and
It’s Okay”
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I’ve known Carly for a little over ten years. Despite never actually living in the same area, we managed to make so many beautiful memories together. I was enamored from the moment Brennin introduced us in 2012 (which is also when she helped me seek petty revenge on my evil ex-boyfriend no questions asked).
Looking back, most of our memories together involved live music. From chasing Brennin around Twin Peaks shows, dancing all day at Denver’s UMS or getting lost in Vortex at a festival in New Mexico. Even recently, when I hadn’t seen her in a few years, we reconnected again this summer at the Bright Eyes concert and I will forever be grateful for the closure that moment has brought me.
She was also there when I bought my wedding dress, celebrated my bachelorette and stood next to me on my wedding day.
But even more than just being a fixture in some of the best moments of my life, knowing Carly has shaped the person that I am in so many ways. Her creativity, radiant energy, effortlessly cool style and unique outlook on life has always been a source of inspiration for me. If Carly ever recommend a book or product to me, I immediately bought and never regretted it for a second. I trusted every word she said.
It still feels impossible that a light that shone so bright could ever be dimmed and go out completely. I will spend the rest of my life wondering how it could be true. At the same time, I am forever grateful to have known her at all and to have nothing but amazing memories of our time together. I will always cherish the tattoo she gave me as a permanent reminder to be always be creative, radiantly positive and open to the limitless wonder of the universe.
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I’ll really really miss you Carly. You will forever live on through all of us
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