Denise Burris
11w
Happy Birthday
Love and miss you buddy! Had some ice cream in your honor. Still doesn't seem real that you are not with us here on earth but you are in our hearts always!!!
Luke McCrea -Turtleman
Luke Conner Mccrea
August 12, 2008 – August 23, 2023
Lived 15 years
Nixa, MO
Your inner critic has the loudest voice. Learn to quiet that voice and love yourself for all your quirks and uniqueness. Breathe!!! Life is precious. You matter.
Life story
Luke McCrea was an old soul. Eager to always help everyone. Obsessed with turtles, playing Xbox, anything technology related, and riding his scooter. Luke had such a huge heart and wanted everyone to laugh and be ok. He did this under the radar most of the time. He went to Espy, Inman, Nixa junior High, and unfortunately only two days of his freshman year at Nixa High School. Luke took his life on August 22, 2023, just a few weeks after turning 15. We were all very shocked and devastated, doing our best to push through our grief. It’s been a year and on Luke’s 16th bday, Aug 12, we planted a sunset maple, built a bench, and plan to watch this tree grow each year. We want to concentrate on the amazing young man he was and not how he chose to leave this world. Teenage years are so hard, kids can be cruel, rough times come to us all. If you are reading this, know that you matter…your life matters and things have a way of working out and looking different to us what some time. Your feelings are real and valid. Reach out to someone you trust that can get you to the right support. Luke chose to be an organ donor and saved many lives. His heart is in an 8 year old boy. We all miss him so much and the pieces he left behind, we keep trying to put ourselves back together. Life is never the same. He was so loved. You. Are. Loved. Sit on this bench and think of the things you can be grateful for. Even the smallest thing, until you practice enough to train your brain to think of the good things. Luke was a special dude. He’s sitting with you.
Photos
Photo book
Luke’s life, in a printed book
We design every page from Luke’s 30 photos. Make it yours, then order a copy for everyone who loved Luke.
Lifetime
The world Luke knew
Family milestones in gold, history for context
2008
Born August 12
2008
Born in Springfield, MO at Cox South
2009
Luke was 1 when Michael Jackson died
2014
Luke was 6 when the Ice Bucket Challenge went viral
2015
Luke was 7 when "Hamilton" opened on Broadway
2016
Luke was 8 when the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908
2019
Luke was 11 when the Disney+ streaming service launched
2022
Luke was 14 when ChatGPT was released to the public
2023
Passed away August 23, age 15
2024
Luke’s 16th birthday
Tributes and memories
8 memories shared
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Susie Hughes
11w
Happy 18th Bday in Heaven
Happy Birthday my love sponge nephew. I miss you so much and think about you every single day. I hope you are heavenly eating ice cream and thank you for sending us the beautiful rainbow while the family was at Braum’s tonight. I know that was you. 🥹❤️ Love you always, Aunt Susie
Meghan Eubanks
11w
Happy 18th birthday buddy!
Happy birthday, Luke!! We celebrated you tonight with Braums and plenty of icecream because we know it was your favorite. The whole family went to your tree and bench afterwards. We miss and love you so much!!
Tiffany Powers
103w
Halloween cookie decoration, 2015.
Sharing memories as they come. 🧡
Bailey Hatfield
110w
Sweet boy
Luke, I remember when I first met you, it was my first babysitting experience with an infant and I was terrified, but as soon as I held you and and saw your sweet smile, my heart melted, you made it so easy. From then on, I watched you grow into an adorable, freckle-faced toddler who blessed us as our spunky and silly ring bearer at me and Aaron’s wedding. I will never forget you telling me how beautiful I looked and it made my day so special and melted my heart. I also get a giggle hearing about how you kept trying to take off your little tuxedo while standing with the groomsmen. It brought a smile to everyone’s faces. You then became a young man and I loved seeing all the fun pictures of you on social media, and how you kept your silly disposition. You were such a light in this world. Seeing you hold Hunter in my mom’s pool tugged at my heart strings knowing our family had come full circle. From your mom babysitting me, to me you, and then you watching over baby Hunter for his first dip in the pool. I love you Luke, and I know you are loved more than anyone will ever know in Heaven. See you again someday sweet boy. 💙
ali dollins
113w
Lukey Bear
It was the pleasure of our lives to watch Luke and Aaden grow together, and it's the hardest thing to go through life with his absence. Luke was so special. So loved. He was unique in his ability to seek out those that needed a friend, needed someone to talk to, even at a young age. He was a lover of people and wise beyond his years. He loved music (always had that airpod in one ear), but he didn't like to sing much. He always chose the song when we were in the car, and he loved to watch others get joy out of his song choice. I loved to watch him and Aaden out of my rear view mirror laughing about a video edit that they found. 😂❤️ We love you, Lukey Bear. Come sit by me on the bench sometime.
kenzie lynn
113w
in memory of lukey wukey
you were such a kind soul and you helped soso many people, you are so loved and missed🐢
Star Hargis
115w
In memory of Luke
Watching you grow up into a beautiful soul was such a privilege. You were kind and funny and brought such joy to your family. You will forever be missed.
Family and friends
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