Corey Denton, age 34, of Newcastle, Oklahoma, died on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 in Oklahoma due to a motorcycle accident.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, at Rush Funeral Home in Philip.
Christian Funeral Liturgy will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 31, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.
Christian Funeral Committal will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.
Corey was born August 18th, 1990 in Pierre, SD. He arrived in grand style, demanding the attention of everyone around by arriving Mid-State fair week. Corey got his first set of roller skates and bicycle at three. From then on there was no stopping him from following his own path.
Kindergarten was started in Philip, SD; Cheyenne, WY for first through third grade. He was a favorite of his teachers. Recess was always his favorite subject. Corey loved his little sister Sara and little brother Tyler, into mischief they all three went, scooters, skiing, snow boarding and biking; where one went the rest followed.
We moved to Cedar City, Utah, and in fourth grade at Fiddlers Elementary is where Corey met his first best friend. Utah is where Corey began mountain biking with his Dad, and naturally the rest of us followed.
From the start Corey didn’t like school, or really teachers for that matter, but for a few exceptions. He would rather be doing anything than sitting and listening. He never had a clock that was not torn apart; a radio that was not dissected and rebuilt with better speakers; or toys that were not disassembled. Video games, thumping music, and riding fast were Corey, not in any particular order. He was also learning to play guitar.
A Civic Honda may have been rebuilt once or twice, a van retro fitted to camp in, and a motorcycle torn completely down, and spit polished to Jon’s ever ire in the shop.
Corey had a will and drive to do things his own way, always his own way. Do not suggest an easy way, or it could be guaranteed he would prove that his way was better. Corey learned a few Jerry’isms while in South Dakota, and we hear them often when with friends when they refer to Corey.
As Corey’s mountain biking hobby turned into a shot at the pros, he gained more friends and followers, and was able to place 4th at a National Level mountain bike race in Snowshoe, WV.
For awhile Corey worked as an accomplished bike mechanic, starting at Bike One and BikeLab. Through his mechanic training he earned a helmet, a PINK one; Corey decided he could wear it with a few tweaks to his bike. It was said Pink was faster, and it became so. That is how #teampink was created, and his followers grew.
As a mechanic Corey never made you feel inferior. If you didn’t know things about your bike, he would take the time to teach. He could take the most worn out, piece of shit and make it ride like it was meant to. He became a self-taught, excellent suspension tech, and could rebuild shocks and forks to ride better than new. There was an article written about him in Aspen, CO when working at dirt. Service Center.
If Corey offered to ride with you, you can bet he would stay with you for however long you were riding, though he could ride away anytime. His patience was short-lived if you complained…he did not have the patience for stupidity, bullshit or whining; but if you had a winning attitude, Corey was your biggest cheerleader.
Corey faced many trials in his life, but he had found his groove once again and was working with a mental health institution to give back and help those with similar struggles to his own. He was getting the help he needed, and was on his way to buying a house, working full time and really had his life ahead of him.
He loved his family and touched so many lives in the cycling community and elsewhere. He will be missed by so many.
Survivors include his parents Julie and Jon Denton of Newcastle, Oklahoma; brother Tyler Denton of Travis AFB of California; Sara Denton of Newcastle, Oklahoma; maternal grandparents Martin and Vera Nelson of Philip; paternal grandmother Teresa Olkowski of Florida; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Jimmy Denton and aunt Kathy Nelson.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
