Online Memorial Tribute

Corey Christopher James (20) and his wife Michelle Marie James (22) were killed on Sunday, August 17th, 2003 in an automobile accident on Highway 79 in Florence, Arizona.

Corey was born June 16, 1983 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He relocated to Deltona, Florida on December 2, 1993.

Corey was a 2001 graduate of Deltona High School, Deltona, FL. He joined the U.S. Air Force in June 2001 and attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Upon completing his basic training, he attended tech school at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. After tech school he was stationed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ. Corey was an Airman First Class with the 355th Component Maintenance Squadron working on the A-10 warplanes, which were instrumental in the War on Terror in Iraq.

While stationed in Tucson, Corey met and fell in love with Michelle. They became engaged on Thanksgiving Day 2002 and were married on May 18th, 2003 at Gold Canyon Golf Resort, AZ.

Corey enjoyed all sports, especially baseball, NASCAR and the Washington Redskins, as well as his childhood pet dog, Chloe; but his true passions in life were his wife Michelle and the Military.

Michelle was born on March 31, 1981 in Janesville, Wisconsin. She was a 2000 graduate of Wayne High School, Fort Wayne, IN and was attending Central Arizona College, Tucson, AZ for her degree in nursing and expressed interest in Neonatology. She loved music, played the piano and loved animals, especially cats. Michelle and Corey recently adopted their first pet, a cocker spaniel they named Shadow.

Corey and Michelle touched the lives and hearts of countless people in their brief lives with us.

Corey is survived by his parents, John and Donna James, Deltona, FL; his sister Amy Sica, Deltona, FL; and his maternal grandmother, Frances Carter, Scranton, PA. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Caradoc and Hilda James and his maternal grandfather, John R. Carter.

Michelle is survived by her parents, Marjorie Burkhamer, Gold Canyon, AZ and Joseph Burkhamer, Fort Wayne, IN; her brother Michael Burkhamer of IN; and her maternal grandfather Michael Mounts, Gold Canyon, AZ. She was preceded in death by maternal grandmother Loretta Mounts.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 30th, 2003 at Deltona Memorial Gardens with a gathering of friends at 10a.m. and Full Military Honors service at 12p.m. with the U.S. Air Force Chaplain officiating. Following the service, Corey and Michelle were interred together at Deltona Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements entrusted to Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Boulevard Orange City, Florida 32763 386-775-4260.

Information and photos for this memorial have been used with permission by Donna James from Corey & Michelle's other memorial site below:

http://www.coreyandmichelle.com