Always struggling to be better
Chris Prince was a beloved son, brother, and cousin, and a very good dad. As a boy, he was a little mischievous, always into something; but he had a tender heart as well, especially for cats. He loved all animals, even defending slugs his cousin wanted to squish.
Starting when he was young, Chris was always on the move. He went from bicycles to dirt bikes to motorcycles — the faster, the better. He loved to ride with his brother, Cody, and hang out with him at the lake. Fishing, swimming, water skiing, knee boarding or just being in the boat, the lake was where Chris was happy. Family holiday dinners at his grandmother’s house were fun times. He loved being with his cousin, Michael, too. Chris’ mom, Tami, took the two to the fair, Six Flags, and other amusement parks.
Chris started his own family young, becoming a father at just 18. He loved being with his son, Cayden, and his daughter, Kaylee, showing them his roller-skating moves, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the rain, building snowmen, and just being together.
Also at 18, Chris’ life took another pivotal turn. His girlfriend’s father pressed charges that sent him to prison and registered him as a sex offender for life. It was hard to find work and a place to live after he was released. He turned to pain pills and eventually heroin. His mother tried to get him into a treatment facility but couldn’t.
After Kaylee was born, Chris found work as a welder and computer numerical controlled (CNC) operator and started methadone. When Kaylee’s mother and he split, he returned to using drugs.
Tami misses Chris’ smiling face and good nature, and she sees a lot of Chris in his children. “Kaylee looks like him a lot, and Cayden does, too,” she shared. “They turned out to be great kids. Cayden has been working since he was 15. He just bought his first car. He’s 16. He’s going to school and working. Couldn’t ask for a better kid. And Kaylee’s doing great, too. She’s in first grade. She’s living with her mom and her grandma.”
“Chris had eyes that would light up a room when he was sober. He battled with addiction for a while and he would pray so hard for God to help him and make him not want to do this anymore,” she said. “I felt hopeless, like I couldn’t fix the problem. And after he passed, I felt like a failure. I understand now that it’s a disease.”
Chris’ mother, Tami Sexton, contributed to this narrative.
May 29, 1986-May 23, 2022-Age 35
Portrait Artist: Theresa Clower
Narrative Writer: Lynne Mixson
