Corey James Ladvala, 31

On Sept. 11, 2009, we lost our beloved Corey James Ladvala, 31. Corey was the youngest child of Bill and Cindy Ladvala. He was born in Billings on Jan. 22, 1978, and was a Whitefish High School graduate in 1996.

As a Montana native, Corey was passionate about skiing and an avid outdoorsman. He loved baseball, college football and NASCAR. Corey was a music enthusiast, had an incredible sense of humor, never met a stranger, loved his friends as family and was crazy about his dogs. Although he attended school in Missoula and Phoenix, his heart always brought him back to the Flathead Valley. Corey had an adventurous spirit, a heart of gold and will be sorely missed.

Corey is survived by his parents; his sister Kristye Coomer, her husband Michael Coomer and their daughter Mikayla of Haslet, Texas; grandparents Pat and Leo Reid of Deer Meadows, Wash.; grandmother Barbara Ladvala of Roberts; and many more family and friends who love him. He also leaves behind Zeus, Malley and Lulu.

He was preceded in death by grandparents George Ladvala and Buddy and Juanita Bennett; and family pets Zadar and Nakita.

Services will be held at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. The family will have a celebration of Corey's life following the funeral at their home in Whitefish.

Corey's memory would best be honored with donations to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana in Kalispell.