Katelyn Corey Davis

1992 - 2022

December 21, 1992 - June 16, 2022 Katelyn died June 16, 2022, at the City of Hope after a year-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with her loving husband, Ryan, mother, Elizabeth, father, Chris, and dear friend Nicole at her bedside. A native of Los Angeles she most recently was living in Emeryville with her husband, Ryan, at the time of her passing.
You have never met anyone like Katelyn. She was kind and compassionate but was capable of a biting wit as she did not suffer fools – at least not for long. Her brilliance was on display at school and work in all the usual ways, high grades, and multiple scholarships throughout her graduate training. She also wielded her intellect as a diabolical game player. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Harry Potter novels and movies. She listened to the soundtrack of the films and could tell you what was happening in the scene when a particular passage of music was playing.
Diagnosed with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis at nine months Katelyn was challenged with low vision and declining visual acuity throughout her childhood. Thanks to accommodations provided at St. Paul the Apostle School in Westwood and Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks Katelyn excelled both academically and athletically.
In December of 2013 Katelyn participated in a groundbreaking clinical trial using gene transfer to correct the effects of the Leber's. The trial was wildly successful and in October of 2017 Katelyn testified about her experience to the FDA Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee. Katelyn earned a BS in Public Health Science with a minor in statistics from UC Irvine and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She completed graduate studies at UCLA earning an MS in Epidemiology. She worked in clinical research and in various capacities as a data analyst (statistician, survey designer, data provisioner and web page developer) and project management roles for the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Services Research and Development Center, UCI Dept. of Urology, UCI Department of Medicine – Research in Translational Technology Enabling High Quality Care (iTEQC) and for the UCSF Cancer Lab of Max Krummel. During her too-short career Katelyn was listed on more than 10 academic articles and talks.

Katelyn married her high school sweetheart, Ryan Davis, in October 2018. The wedding motif was inspired by the fantasy novels and movies they both loved. They sat together in matching thrones presiding over the dancing and dining of lifelong friends, colleagues, and family. The magic of the evening was to presage an even more magical life they would share together. Katelyn's passing has left all stunned and saddened. No one deserved to have more life, as she would not waste a day of it. She baked, knitted, played computer and board games and hiked with her dog, Ike, who she loved beyond reason.
Katelyn is survived by her husband, Ryan, mother, Elizabeth, father, Christopher. Additionally, Aunts Jacqueline, Jennifer, and Kimberly; uncles Larry and Scott and cousins, as well as many friends to whom she was fiercely loyal. Details regarding arrangements, etc are found here: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/katelyncoreydavis