Ashley Florey
BIO
Ashley Florey is in the Army Corp of Engineers based at the visitor center in Shelbyville Illinois.
Ashley Florey is a public servant, park ranger, and author based in Central Illinois, widely known for her work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Lake Shelbyville.
Professional Background
At Lake Shelbyville, Florey serves in a public-facing capacity—frequently coordinating community outreach, park operations, and public events for the USACE St. Louis District. Her role has included managing and coordinating programs such as:
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The annual Lake Shelbyville Deer Hunt for Disabled Hunters and Wounded Warriors.
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Interpretive services, water control public meetings, and community outdoor recreation events (such as campground openings and local youth fishing events).
Her Book: "The Light I Couldn't See"
In 2026, Florey published her debut memoir, "The Light I Couldn't See: A Memoir of Darkness, Faith, and Finding the Light."
The book is a deeply personal and vulnerable account of her life outside of her public service role. Key themes and elements of her memoir include:
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Mental Health and Recovery: She shares her unfiltered story of surviving a suicide attempt, navigating psychiatric hospitalization, and enduring a long battle with severe, untreated depression and trauma.
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A Story of "Staying": Rather than presenting a narrative of having everything completely figured out, the memoir focuses on resilience, choosing to live "another morning," and learning that while darkness is powerful, it is not permanent.
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Faith and Community: The book details how her faith deepened through her recovery—shifting from personal striving to surrendering and trusting in God. She heavily credits the family members and community who supported and "carried" her when she couldn't carry herself.
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The Camino de Santiago: To mark her survival and honor the life she almost lost, Florey later walked across Spain (the Camino de Santiago) in prayer and reflection.
Florey wrote the memoir with the explicit hope of reaching others who are currently experiencing their own darkest moments—particularly those in psychiatric units—to remind them that survival is possible, they are not alone, and hope still exists.
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