Ashley Cook

Ashley (McCarthy) Cook's Lafayette experience is inextricably connected to her friendship with her kindergarten classmate Ryan Trigg. We take a closer look at what the former LHS cheerleader is up to now and how she continues to keep Ryan's memory alive five years after his untimely passing.

Questions

Favorite High School Memory: the friends that I made and all the fun and crazy times we had together.

Favorite High School Class: Mr. Neal's language arts classes

Favorite High School Activity: Cheerleading

In high school, I'd spend my weekends: hanging out with friends and working my part time job.

In 2009, I spend my weekends: spending time with family, going to dinner with friends or watching movies on the couch with my husband and dogs.

What She's Up To Now
Ashley graduated from Maryville University in 2006 with a BA in Marketing Communications and currently works in accounting for a medical management company in Chesterfield. She got married on May 31, 2008 to the man of her dreams, Grant Cook. They were set up on a blind date by mutual friends in the Summer of 2006, and is Ashley's best friend. They are currently building a new house in Eureka that will be finished in the spring. The Cooks have two dogs, Sam (maltese) and Sophie (chihuahua).

Ryan
I had known Ryan since kindergarten and I treasure my memories of him. He was an amazing person. He had such a great heart and was always making people laugh. When I heard that he passed, it actually felt like my heart was breaking. It was a very sad time for all who knew him. Our first grade teacher came to his funeral and she told me that she didn't remember many of her students from that long ago, but Ryan was one that always stood out in her memory. That's the kind of person Ryan was, unforgettable.

This year was the 5 year anniversary of his death. I can't believe how quickly the years have passed, but his memory stays very much alive through the 410 members of his memorial group that I started on Facebook a few years back (In Memory of Ryan Trigg). It's a place where people share memories, thoughts and pictures. You can also find information about all the great events that Rich and Jill put together to honor his memory as well as the other classmates we have lost since graduation.

Another way I like to honor Ryan's memory is by visiting his grave and leaving him flowers every November 1st. When I visit Ryan's grave I always see something new that someone has left for him. It just shows how much he is loved and remembered and it makes me smile.