Katelynn Payton
Burley where do I even start, I met you when I was 17 and you were 18. I was with my friend Devon and she said she was going to go say hi to her “brothers” and I decided to tag along. She took me to this backyard and into a trailer. Little did I know that trip would change my life for the next nearly 4 years. My brothers met you shortly after but through our cousin Jordan and their friend Darren. After that day they started going over to your house daily not long after them I started tagging along. Wether it was you picking us up or longboarding over to your house we always found a way. It could be 11pm or even 3am no matter what you were only ever a call away. I remember once you, Taylor and I started walking around lehi at like 8pm and didn’t go home until the sun came up. We just walked the city and talked all night, the first person we came across was a jogger at around 5am, he had the loud awakening of you yelling at him “ITS OUR FIRST HUMAN ENCOUNTER!” And then we all just bursted into laughter. I remember your love for your swords, I have so many videos of you and isiah sword fighting or you just stabbing it into where ever you could then turning at me to laugh. I remember your love for music, even though you didn’t have the most beautiful singing voice you sure did love to use it. I remember once when your parents were out of town and we were very thirsty for some milk but you didn’t want to do dishes so you got us bowls and we drank from bowls. I remember when you first got a bike and you were just so excited and just wanted us to hop on. As I was hesitant the boys weren’t and they just hoped right on and we’re ready to go. When you and Taylor got back you guys had a blast telling us how you said “hold tight” and started to wheelie and in the process hoped the curb and went off again while still managing to stay on one wheel. As “cool” as it sounds that was completely accidental not at all planned. It didn’t take me long to hop on the back but when I did you were always so cautious and gentle. I remember when you came to live with us and we would stay up real late or wake up real early to pour water on everyone’s faces. I remember when I got my heart broken and you were right there with wise words, funny jokes and so many kind compliments. You hated to see anyone hurt or upset and did anything in your power to spark a smile on everyone’s faces. I truly wish things didn’t end the way they did. I would do anything for one more conversation or one more hug. Burley wore his heart on his sleeve and that’s something ill personally learn from. I’ll love and miss you forever Burley. I’d like to share a quote I wrote for my sisters headstone, “As the flowers have died and the tears have dried as the dreams fade the memories will stay” I’ll never forget our memories and you will live on in us, fly high burley💙