My name is Katie Clark Hydrick. I only knew Chelsea for about 5 months, but was lucky enough to be with her frequently for the last few months of her life. I first noticed Chelsea and Angela at the airport on our layover on our way to London. I knew immediately that we would be friends. We weren’t introduced until we got to the London Airport, but instantly I felt what a great person she was. Everyone always wanted to be around her. We got to be very close during our few months there. We would even cuddle on the floor of the bus together to keep warm. We would take late night walks to the drug stores to get Wine Gummies and Wispa Mints. She was so much fun and always seemed happy! I loved and admired a lot of things about Chelsea, but I think the thing that drew me to her and impressed me most about her, was the fact that she was constantly thinking of others! She was beautiful, smart and very talented- but she never made it about her. She was always thinking of how she could help someone else. She remembered everyone’s birthday and would stop and buy them a flower at the the little flower stand in the tube station. She was always listening to people’s troubles and worries. It didn’t matter where someone came from, what they wore, how they looked, or what kind of life they lived, Chelsea treated them with love and respect. This really tells a lot about how she was raised and what an amazing, loving family she came from. She really did have a way of making you feel special. I loved Chelsea and am amazed at how many people she touched in her short life. She definitely made me want to be a better person. I am so grateful for the short time that I got to spend with such an amazing girl. I love you Chelsea. I love you Hale Family.

Clothespin people!!

My earliest memory of Chelsea was the first day I met her at Hillside Jr. High. We had a journalism class together and we sat next to eachother. We had a slightly strange teacher that made us write poems everyday about these clothespin people she made. Chelsea and I never understood what this teacher wanted our poems to be like and she never liked our poems until Chelsea wrote one totally sarcastic and making fun of the little people the teacher always displayed. We laughed so hard about her poem and Chelsea was so scared she would get in trouble if she turned it in. Instead the teacher loved it and thought Chelsea was serious. We laughed so hard about that poem. The teacher compiled a book of her favorite poems from the year and sure enough that silly poem of Chelsea's made the cover! She was so easy to build a friendship with and we remained friends from that class on. We had lots of inside jokes about her parents going on my parents honeymoon with them. And it was easy to smile when she was around. The thing I find most amazing about Chelsea is I bet most people didn't even think Chelsea and I were very good friends but she had a special way to make everyone around her feel like her friend, not just her friend, but her close friend. She was always inclusive and sweet to me. She had more maturity at an early age than most people did. She was classy and fun and had something special about her that made her stand out. She was ALWAYS herself and never changed depending on the group of friends she was with. I have, and will always respect her. She taught me a lot about friendship early in life and has now taught me about the value of life. Two lessons I will always remember... I think about her often!!
Jessica Morrow Gardner

Always together, always smiling. Love: Alison Wadsworth

Our sweet Chel. She was one of the family to all who knew her. We visit her grave yearly and love the way you decorate it with beautiful roses. They remind me of her, beautiful without trying. Sending you our kisses and loves Alison Wadsworth

Memories of Chelsea

I still think of Chelsea almost everyday. I have many sweet memories of her. Many times when I call Emily's cell phone I get her answering machine. She still has the message Chelsea left for her before she left forLondon. I know Emily will always keep that message. Chelsea was like one of my own children.We loved having her in our home. She got along well with every one of us. She liked to ask me what I was reading. I remember driving the girls to Newport for their Senior Trip. Chelsea was worried I would fall asleep so she read to me the book I brought. The other girls were asleep but Chel was reading "Memiors of a Geisha" out loud.

I loved watching the girls swim over the years. We have a little Bronze in our living room to remind us of the Relay Team. I know the Hales and Jardines have one too. The girls would get in a circle before and after a race and get pumped for the race or comfort each other after a race.

I remember one time the day of a dance Emily decided she would get her hair done. She got back from the hairdresser and was sobbing because he hated her hair. The girls usually wanted a few pictures before the dance. We have pictures of Emily crying and Chelsea comforting her in their Prom dresses.

We love visiting Chelsea's grave. On Chelsea's birthday several years ago Emily and I drove to the grave. A foot of fresh snow covered all the markers. I got out and started to push the snow away with the heel of my boot. I was thinking...Chelsea, where is your marker? I looked up and a ray of shunshine came through the clouds and shone down on a spot of snow. I pushed the snow away where the sun shone and it was Chelsea's stone. She lives and shines on us from time to time.

Love you forever,

Liz Cook

best friends

Hello, my name is Eliza Jane Monson. Richards is my maiden name. When I was young my family moved next door to the Hale's family. I was young when Chelsea passed away. We had spent a lot of time with their family, being neighbors and in the same ward. My brothers were close to her age and carpooled to school together. I remember my brother and Chelsea went to a dance together, and she looked to pretty. Chelsea was always known for being so fun, energetic, down-to-earth and my brothers adored her! As everyone did. No one could ever say a bad thing about Chelsea, she was so kind. I always admired her. I remember when she had gone to Africa for a humanitarian trip and promised myself that I would do something like that. Her stories that she shared about her experiences with the kids there were something that I wanted to experience.

What I remember most about Chelsea is her friendship she had with Emily Cook Bullen. Emily's sister Eliza and I are best friends, and when my family moved next door, Eliza and I's first thought was how ironic that Emily and Chelsea are best friends and you and I are best friends and you live with Emily, and I live RIGHT next door to Chelsea.

Eliza and I always compared ourselves to Emily and Chelsea. They were such good friends and perfect examples of what best friends should be to Eliza and I. It was perfect, Eliza and Emily have blonde hair, and Chelsea and I had brown hair. Whenever Eliza and I went to Kmart and took those famous "kmart pictures" we always did poses that Eliza told me Emily and Chelsea did. We admired and mimicked their friendship.

When Chelsea died I saw how hard it was for the entire Cook family; especially Emily. And of course I naturally thought about what if Eliza died... When Eliza and I talked about it, it was hard for us to grasp everything, but we understood that Heavenly Father needed Chelsea.

As I grow older and my friendship with Eliza only grows too I feel so blessed to have her be apart of my life, and I cherish our relationship. We bacame friends in first grade and like anyone we had our hissy fights but we knew like Emily and Chelsea we would stay friends because they had too. Throughout the years I have gotten to know Chelsea's family as I swam with Hannah and Sam. And they are two of my most favorite people. Hannah and Sam only brought fun and happiness to swimming practices which I'm sure Chelsea did too! I always LOVED spending time with them. And when I was in young womens I had the opportunity of have Karen as a teacher when I was a mia-maid I think. I remember our lessons were so well thought out and put together and we always came home with the most darling trinkets! I am so grateful for the Hale family and for their good examples to me. Thanks for everything!

Recipe for Love

The memories that come to me about Chelsea right now are oh so sweet ones from childhood. In my elementary school and junior high years, I remember skipping down the street five houses to Chelsea's to make the famous chocolate-banana Hale malts. I never liked chocolate banana anything until I ate it at Chelsea's house. I remember early morning swim team carpool rides to the Tennis Club. Ugh. I remember when Chelsea introduced me to Harry Connick Jr.--haha. We would dance and sing around her house to his great song, "Recipe for Love"--a song I still love!--with Chelsea's stick thin legs just doin' their thing, laughing all the while and having so much fun. I remember hanging out with her at all our Young Women ward activities, girls camp, etc. Chelsea was always such a good example to me--so full of life, energy, and radiating with optimism and love for others.

I love you Chelsea and will never forget you! Thank you for the memories and everlasting impression you left on my life. I know you did the same for everyone else you came in contact with!

Love,

Rachel Barker