WESTBROOK – Christopher Willey, a 2000 graduate of Westbrook High School and a credit analyst for Seafax Inc. in Cumberland, died Friday after an apparent heart attack. He was 28.

Messages posted on a Facebook page created for Willey describe him as a devoted father and loyal friend who loved Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale and the Dave Matthews Band.

As of late Sunday, more than 250 people “liked” his Facebook page, many of them leaving messages to pay tribute to a man who made such an impression on others.

One of the messages was written by Katie Willey, his wife for six years.

“I love you and miss you so very very very much,” she wrote. “My heart is broken and I don’t know if it can be repaired.”

Aaron Smith wrote: “I will miss you, bud. It was always awesome to have you around when we were working. You are one of the good ones. Help watch over us all.”

On Friday night, Willey and his wife had put their 16-month-old son, Morgan, to bed. She sat down at the computer. He sat nearby to coach her through a problem she was having.

“I looked at him and he was gasping for air,” his wife said. “His eyes were fluttering. I felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t move him. The doctors did CPR for over an hour. He was too young to go. I just want to know why.”

An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Willey and his wife graduated from Westbrook High together in 2000.

The couple lost touch after graduation and reconnected a year and a half later. His wife said they both had a secret crush on each other in high school but never acted on it because they didn’t want to ruin their friendship.

She said his personality made her fall in love with him — that and he was a “great hugger,” she said.

They were married on June 19, 2004.

“We are puzzle pieces that fit just right,” his wife said. “I love him so much. We supported each other through everything.

“I’ll miss his hugs. He is going to be missed by so many people.”

On Sunday morning, Morgan picked up a picture of his father from the coffee table and pointed to his face.

“Morgan said, ‘Dada,’ Katie Willey recalled. “He knows something is going on. He just doesn’t understand.”

Willey took his son to the park on Tuesday and let him play in the big kids’ playground.

“Chris was the greatest dad,” his wife said. “I have made it my vow that he will never forget his daddy.”

There will be plenty of pictures to remind Morgan. Willey had a passion for photography and occasionally shot weddings and special occasions for family and friends.

Willey’s services will be held from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony’s Church on Brown Street in Westbrook. His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. The arrangements are being made by Blais & Hay Funeral Home.

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:

mcreamer@pressherald.com