Zachary Gilkison

Zachary “Zach” Clinton Kaylor Gilkison was born September 25, 1987, and grew up in the Western Brown / Mt. Orab area of Ohio. Those who knew him remembered a young man who loved being outside—whether fishing from a quiet shore, hunting with close friends, or carving turns on a snowy slope. He graduated from Western Brown High School and later lived in Elsmere, Kentucky, where he was part of the everyday life of family and friends.

Family meant a great deal to Zach. He is identified in funeral notices as the son of Dave and Regina (Kaylor) Gilkison and brother to Buddy and Joe. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are listed among those who survived him, and local remembrances emphasize his easy laugh and the ways he brightened ordinary gatherings. Lighter pursuits—like playing pong with friends—appear in the record alongside outdoors pursuits, painting a picture of someone who enjoyed companionship and simple pleasures.

Public records and funeral-home remembrances note that Zach loved life and was full of small, vivid moments that mattered to those closest to him: a fishing trip, a shared joke, the pride of family milestones. His obituary at a Cincinnati/Newport-area funeral home records his birth and the communities that shaped him, and lists visitation details that were offered for family and friends.

Zach’s life was cut short in April 2015. Sources place his passing on April 16, 2015, though some public records and databases list April 17, 2015. Whatever the exact date, the loss was felt by a wide circle of family and friends who remember him for his warmth, outdoor spirit, and the small joys he shared.

While public coverage of the events surrounding his death exists, this remembrance is focused on Zach’s life: the brother, son, grandson, and friend who loved outdoor pursuits and the company of people who mattered most to him. Those who carry his memory forward recall the everyday kindnesses and the cheerful presence that made him, simply, Zach.