Kassie was one of my best friends and one of the few people I kept in touch with from our time at Alfred University. I love Kassie for so many reasons. Her laugh made me laugh, she was a creative thinker, she was sensitive and caring and forgiving, she knew how to really live. Here are a few of my favorite memories of times with Kassie:

Going on walks in the woods above the suites at Alfred, looking at leaves and little animals.

Visiting the cows in a hilltop field behind Kassie's home senior year. We ran down the hill singing songs together.

Getting stuck at Kassie's house on freezing cold snowy nights when her home was just so cozy and warm.

Making beats as we walked around NYC and laughing the whole time.

Going to Kassie's AHRC poetry and cooking classes with her and seeing her work with her clients.

Kassie's expressions when my sister and I were giving her a foot massage (my sister massaged one foot and I massaged the other). 

Doing yoga with Kas on the floor in her apartment.

I will always love and miss Kassie. She was and always will be one of my best friends. We shared memories and now I will hold on to them and pass them along to her little girls. 

With love, Stephanie 

Kassie was born on Friday September 26th in 1986. I was petrified of the responsability of fatherhood. Tried to steel my nerves for the days events. She was suposed to be premature. I told myself "it's going to look like a lizard, but you have to pretend it's cute". I waited outside the delivery room. Scared to death. After an eternity they wheeled out Kassie's mother Holly, and handed Kassie to me. I looked down at this roll of blankets and saw two big brown eyes, blinking from the light, looking up at me. Her lips were pursed in a little "O". She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. My first thought was "I'm in trouble now!". I knew my life, as I had known it, was over. From that moment on I understood that my first responsability was not to myself anymore.
Being a parent has been the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever had. Kassie and her brothers saved me from a wasted life. I saw the man I wanted to be in those beautiful brown eyes. Kassie's nick-name was "The Little Beauty" (given to her by my father ...who she named "Bubba"). Later shortened to "The Beauty", or just "Beauty". a more fitting name there never was. she brought beauty into my life every day of hers. Magically she continues to do so through her daughters, and her memory. Many of her friends know this nick-name. Not so many know her first nick-name. One of her first words was "Duckdoo". A phrase I liked to imagine as "Thank you" when she was very little. I used to kiss her forhead and say "nighty night, Duckdoo" when I put her to bed. I kissed her forhead in the funeral home and said it one last time. God give me the strength to go on until I can see those brown eyes again! I love you Kassie!!!!

Kassie came out to Northern California to visit her two aunts, me and Lynn. It was almost exactly 20 years since her first visit, when she was 8-years-old. This time, Kassie wanted to see the redwoods. So we took her up to Muir Woods. We also saw the special Ai Weiwei exhibit on Alcatraz, went to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, toured the Winchester Mystery House, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, hung out at the Dia des los Muertos festival, and carved Halloween pumpkins.

Lynn and I didn't know it, but Kassie had just learned she was pregnant before her visit. So, Ivy and Sonya, your first visit to California was when you were two tiny "beans," as your Grandpa calls you.

 Kassie was so different, unique.. when my family found out she was having girls. Twin girls at that. We were ecstatic. We couldn't wait to plan her Baby shower  with pink && purple and all the girly stuff. But kassie had other things in mind. She has a a Theme and her friends and family loved it. I was like wait no pink!! no purple!! where  are all the girly stuff.  Lol Kassie knew what she wanted and because I wasnt really close with her at that time it was out of my hand.. lol  so it was a little bit of a bummer but she asked me to make her pernil (roast pork) she always love my pernil. So that was my contribution.  And I was content being able to help anyways i can..  btw the baby shower was awesome her family and friends did a great job. It was so much fun the food was yummy and we were all happy to celebrate for the twin girls..   btw that's kassie and I lol 

Kassie was such a beautiful person inside and out. 

I actually was lucky to have spent some of her last days with her. I was her nanny to my beautiful twin cousins Ivy and Sonya. Kassie was so free spirited. She always gave great advice and was always open to any advice given. She never passed judgement and always saw the best in people.. 

my last memory of her is from Thursdays September 14th I believe. I was at the house with the twins and she got home early, I was sitting on her chair. I said u want to sit. Shes says no I'm ganna make the girls lunch. So she made them mac and cheese. I kept insisting on helping her because I was still in the clock (lol)  anywho as she is standing making the food i ask "do u want  me to feed the girl she turned back and smiles at me with such a beautiful smile. and said no girl I got it. You go home to your son I got it from here. The smile! that beautiful soul! that smile will live on in my mind and memory of her. 

I loved kassie because she was a great person. ever since she came in to mycousins life (Onix) shes changed him in ways no one can understand. He didn't want to settle down and marry just any girl he didn't want to start a family with  just anyone. He wanted it to be with the right one the perfect girl. And kassie was his perfect girl and though it's unfortunate that she is no longer with us. She will always play a great memory in our Heart!!  I also was happy and blessed and I wish I can thank her for allowing me to Nanny her beautiful twin girls.. whom I adore.  

Ijust pray for happiness and understanding throughout their lives. That Ivy and Sonya will live and grow to beautiful smart kind respectful young woman just like their mother..  I know you are God hands and I am so thankful for kassie supportive Family and that you ladies will always have the best. Xoxox 

Aunty Shamira  cousin Jenesis and Jonah love and adore you Ivy and Sonya 

You are adorable when u can to see me at the hospital  ...at my engagement party.... I still have that awesome  blanket.. It meant so much.... Now more then ever.... You gave us the Gemini  twins... As I'm also a Gemini.... You will be miss..... Shamira Miss  u... But most... She miss her twins.... She