Dawn Of The Dead
Timber Creek remembers some of the celebrities who passed away in 2016
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher died at the age of 60 on December 27, four days after she suffered a heart attack while on a flight from London to Los Angeles.She was best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films. “She was an icon for star wars and her name became a brand,” junior Jabriel Nabong told us.
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds died at the age of 84 on December 28, one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher’s death. Reynolds was best known for her roles in The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Halloweentown as Grandma Maggie “She was a G thang we love Grandma Maggie,” announced freshman Ethan Canning.
John Glenn
The iconic astronaut and politician died on November 8, 2016, at age 95. Ohio Governor John Kasich confirmed his passing. Glenn was part of NASA’s first group of astronauts, Mercury 7, and became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. He later served as a Democratic senator for 25 years.” He was an inspiration to America and made history,” said senior Antonio Estrada in memorial to his death.
Valerie Fairman
Valerie Fairman, who appeared on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant in 2010, died at age 23 of an apparent overdose on Wednesday, December 21. “It sucks she died. She had a cute little girl,” sophomore Morgan Heagy stated. The reality star was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend’s home in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. She left behind her parents and friends and her 7-year-old daughter, Nevaeh.
Nancy Reagan
The former First Lady, married to 40th President Ronald Reagan, died of congestive heart failure at her home in Los Angeles on March 6. The New York City–native and mother of two was 94. Junior Ernesto Maysonet said this of Mrs. Reagan: “I didn’t know her but she was really old.”
Arnold Palmer
One of the greatest American professional golfers, Palmer died of complications from heart problems in Pittsburgh on September 25 at age 87. When asked what she would like to say about the golfer, senior Belle Canning stated, “R.I.P my homie. Thanks for the bomb drink. You will be missed.” The seven-time major championship winner, known as “The King” had a charismatic personality, which helped popularize the sport in the 1960s. The athlete often drank iced-tea and lemonade and the mix was eventually named after him.
Florence Henderson
The Brady Bunch matriarch died of heart failure at age 82 on November 24, just days after she was seen in the audience at the finale of Dancing With the Stars. “She was very funny and great actor and she will be missed,” sophomore Cole Brockman said. She was surrounded by family and friends at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles when she passed away.
Muhammad Ali
The legendary former heavyweight champion was hospitalized before passing away from septic shock on June 3. “He was the greatest in and outside the ring. His boxing skills matched his ability to sell tickets. No one will ever match his level. Float like a butterfly sting like a bee , rumble young boy rumble,” stated senior Linwood Lee. Ali was 74. He retired in 1981 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three years later. He was last seen out in public in September 2015.
Prince
The icon — who released 39 studio albums, won seven Grammys and an Academy Award, and was known for hits including “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” “Little Red Corvette” and “When Doves Cry” — died at his Paisley Park residence in Minnesota on April 21. He was 57. “It’s like losing an icon that we can never get back and a treasured image of great and true talent that is no longer in our existence,” said junior Peterson Fortilus.
Chyna
The famed WWE wrestler (birth name: Joan Laurer) was found dead on April 20 at her home in Redondo Beach, California. She was 46. “She was bad when she was young,” said junior Carlos Matos.
Harper Lee
Literary legend Nelle Harper Lee passed away on the morning of February 19, at age 89. While her cause of death has yet to be determined, the writer suffered a stroke in 2007. ” She was a very influential author,” said senior Lauren Weicek. The classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird remained Lee’s only published piece of work for the majority of her career, but she finally released its long-awaited sequel Go Set a Watchman on July 14, 2015. Lee never married or had children.
David Bowie
The iconic rocker and actor died peacefully at his home on January 10 following a secret 18-month battle with liver cancer. His wife, supermodel Iman, posted a telling quote to Instagram just days before the star’s shocking death: “Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Bowie left his fans with a parting gift just before his death — one last album, Blackstar. The trailblazer was 69 years old. He and Iman welcomed their daughter, Alexandria, in 2000. “He’s a amazing singer and I like his makeup,” claimed sophomore Anthony Nixon.