Kasie and I were freshman roommates at ASU. We decided to be roommates at Appalachian Freshman Welcome Orientation in Charlotte. We were sitting at the same table with our mothers and struck up a conversation. Kasie and I talked about how excited we were to go to App but we were also a little nervous because we both didn't know who our roommates were. As we kept on talking, I just liked Kasie more and more. She was just sweet and down-to-earth, someone I felt like I could get to know easily & be comfortable with. I was immediately attracted to that confident and fun spirit she possessed. I asked her if she wanted to be roommates. She answered with an emphatic "YES" and a big smile. We were able to work out a request to be roommates at the orientation.

We took a chance on each other and I'm so glad we took the chance. We had a great time together as roommates. Our room ALWAYS stayed an absolute mess. Even when we decided to have bunk beds to create more space, the room was still a complete disaster. Most times we would just look at our mess and laugh at it. Kasie even made up a one-line jingle about our room one time, it was called "Sh** on the Floor." I still sing it sometimes (quietly so the little ones won't hear) when I'm cleaning my house.

We never fought when we lived together. We always kept things open and honest with each other. Kasie wanted the coolest-looking room on the floor so we bought matching bedspreads and pillows. But then we discovered Kathy and Rachel's room. We couldn't beat their super-cool room, so we ended up hanging out in Kathy & Rachel's all the time. But Kasie and I would always have a nightly heart-to-heart alone in our messy room before we went to sleep. I could talk to Kasie about absolutely ANYTHING and never felt she would judge me. I loved that about her and I still miss those talks.

After a most memorable year of living on 2nd Floor Eggers, Kasie decided that she wanted to room with a cool girl two doors down from us named Kathleen and our friends Kathy and Rachel. She let me know that she didn't want to hurt my feelings. I told her my feelings weren't hurt at all, as long we are still friends when we moved out I was okay. And we were. Our paths went in different directions after freshman year, but the friendship never ended throughout our time at ASU. Even when our visits became fewer and our circles of friends changed, we always were happy to see each other in passing. She always showed me that she loved me as a person, and I always felt lucky to know and love someone like Kasie.

I did not know that Kasie had passed away until yesterday and this truly saddens me to my core. I looked up to Kasie, she was the personality that I always wanted to be but just wasn't. She was the cool girl who could get along and relate to just about anybody. When you were with Kasie, you knew you with someone with so much integrity. She was in one word - INCREDIBLE.

I did get to see her in Spring of 2005 when I was working in Charlotte, she must have been on a sales call with our IT department. She walked by my cubicle and I recognized her immediately. We shared a chat, a smile and a hug. She showed me a picture of her son and I showed her a picture of my daughter, Emma. It was way too quick of a reunion b/c we were both on the job but it was really good to see her again. I'm so glad I was able to see her after ASU, especially now that I know she is gone. I regret that we lost touch a long time back, and I will truly miss this woman with all of my heart.