Cory Scot Proud passed from this life on Friday May 20, 2016 in the beautiful Sequoia National Forest area of Tulare County, CA. He was 26.

Born in Newport Beach, CA on December 15, 1989, Cory grew up in and around the city of Orange, attending Palmyra Elementary School and Yorba Middle School, and graduating from Orange High School in 2008. He later attended Santa Ana College from which he earned a Certificate in Digital Music Production.

Cory showed an affinity for music from the start, configuring Tupperware and pots and pans for his drumming pleasure as early as age 3. While drumming was his great joy, he was able to pick up and play practically any instrument apart from his beloved drums, including the acoustic and electric guitars and basses, the ukuleles, and the piano keyboard, as well as the bongos, wooden xylophone, and various other pieces that he maintained in his collection. He was dedicated to his goal of commercial success as a musician, and continued to collaborate with a close group of friends toward that goal.

Cory also shared a love for the out-of-doors where he honed his back-packing skills to near master status. He and his best buddy would regularly venture out for days at a time into rugged wilderness areas, often being joined by his father or other like-minded companions to experience the raw beauty that Nature provides. A friend to all living things, he will be remembered for being a kind, thoughtful, patient, funny, talented, compassionate, generous, loving, and all around quality human being.

Missing Cory dearly are the people he left behind: his father, Scot Proud and his wife Linda (Mission Viejo CA); his mother, Barbara Maxson Proud (Tustin CA); his sister, Stephanie and her husband Matt Chico (Mesa AZ); his sister, Lauren (Los Angeles CA); his stepsister, Meghan Vauthrin (Mission Viejo CA); his grandparents, Dolores Maxson (Santa Ana CA), and Robert and Nancy Proud (Lake Forest CA); his nieces and nephews, Sydnie, Parker, and Quinn Chico (Mesa AZ); several aunts and uncles; many cousins; and a seemingly uncountable number of people who could claim him as their friend.

As Cory chose no particular favorite backpacking location and, instead, looked forward to experiencing ever new wilderness trails, his ashes will be scattered over a wide area of the Sierra Mountains.

Memorial services and a Celebration of Life gathering for Cory will be held on June 4, 2016, and all are invited. For further information, please see details below.

In lieu of flowers, donations are being collected through the following channels for a trail head monument in Cory's name:

Online: www.gofundme.com/coryproud

Checks: Cory Proud Memorial Fund

c/o Farmers & Merchants Bank

621 N. El Camino Real

San Clemente, CA 92672

The family wishes to thank everyone for their overwhelming outpouring of love and support at this time.

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