OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Dwayne Courtney walked to a tattoo shop to immortalize his beloved friend.

Dwayne Courtney, left, and David Comstock are seen in this photo.

Cancer claimed David Comstock four months ago.

"One of the biggest things he feared in all the cancer - he didn't fear passing, he didn't fear the cancer itself - he feared being forgotten," said Courtney.

About 20 years ago when Courtney was just a teen, Comstock made him a necklace. Courtney wore it every day.

Courtney decided he'd have that necklace tattooed on his leg.

But that's only part of the story.

Comstock was cremated, and Courtney got some of the ashes.

"In this tattoo, there's the ashes of David Comstock," said Courtney.

With the permission of Comstock's children, tattoo artist Buddy Green mixed just a little of the ashes into the black. He said he's honored to be doing this for two old friends.

"I lost my mother 10 years ago to cancer," said Green of Old School Tattoo. "So I can sympathize with Dwayne on this piece. This man was obviously his father."

Every line he draws becomes a memory. A reminder to Courtney of Comstock -- the man he called best friend and "Padre."

"I'm not going to tattoo myself up unless it's something I will never regret and will enjoy the rest of my life. My best friend -- I will never ever regret having," he said.

When the tattoo is finished, Courtney won't just see a necklace in it.

"I think of my buddy David," he said.

The state says Courtney's actions are legal and pose no health threat.