Courtney Ryan Cregger

My daughter, Courtney died June 30, 2020 of a drug overdose, despite efforts by the medical team at St. Mary's in Palm County Fl. After spending half her life battling her addiction to opioids, her body finally quit. Besides myself, Courtney is survived by her stepdad, Ted H. McKee, sisters, Katie Smithson, Lynsey Thomas (Chris), nephew Jake Thomas, nieces: Lucy Thomas and Meisje Keithley, and her dog, Casey. She is also survived by her aunts, uncles, cousins and friends spread across the country. She gave birth to two blessed children, Adriana, age 7 and Blaze, age 5. They are both being raised in loving families who are kind enough to allow us in their lives. She is also survived by longtime friend, Allen Whetzel of VA; and adoptive father, Marvin Cregger (Diane) of Summerville SC. Any remaining funds from this drive will be either held in trust for her two children, or donated to an appropriate charity. Courtney was a smart, talented, athletic girl with a beautiful smile. She lost all of those things because of drug addiction.  Courtney had many chances to recover. We, as a family stopped enabling her years ago but we never stopped loving her. If anything, it makes her loss more painful because our relationship with her was strained for the last several years. We would like to minimize the Lost years, but the reality is there are many embattled souls who, like Courtney, never find their way back from the abyss. We pray some families will be spared the horrific loss of a daughter, sister, son, brother or other relative if we don't shield the brutal truth. As a parent, I will say if someone you know needs help, don't send them to the beach. I first sent Courtney to a rehab in South Florida in 2008. She bounced in and out before landing in Virginia at age 22. There she repeated the cycle, always returning to S. Florida to find more of the same. Many people in the fields of law enforcement and social services tried to help her. We thank them. Unfortunately her beauty bought her entry into a world of people whose lifestyles destroyed any chance of recovery. Our girl, Courtney, brought us much joy for many years. We are shattered by her death and the pain she suffered. We want to remember her dazzling smile, her athletic prowess, her quirky sense of humor, her love of animals, her compassion for the elderly, her desire to shine in all her endeavors, and the many times she did the right thing.  We ask your help to offset the cost of bringing her home one last time. Courtney will  be laid to rest by the Second Rite of Interment at St. Lawrence Cemetery with her grandparents in Charleston SC where she was born and raised. We hope wherever she is, she will feel the comfort of their loving embrace. May she rest in peace, forever young.