Zachary James Wilson

September 24, 1976 – November 22, 2011

We are honored that Zach’s family and friends have asked that donations be made to Out Youth in lieu of flowers.

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About Zach

Zachary James Wilson of Austin, left this world and passed on in peace, surrounded by love, at 5:28 AM. on November 22, 2011. He was 35 years old.

Zach went out with a bang that early morning (or “Be-Boom” as a three year-old Zach, and an adult Zach would excitedly exclaim), as Austin was treated to its first thunder and lightning storm in almost a year.

He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on September 24, 1976, and is survived by his parents, John Ernest (J.E.) and Suzonne Wilson, plus his sister and best friend, Cydney Wilson, all of St. Joseph. He is also survived by his two faithful Boston Terriers, Lizzie and Frannie. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Marian Wilson, and by his maternal grandparents, James and Buena Johnson.

Zach had an ever-growing circle of friends in Austin, including his loving companion, Tony Rolston, and long-time, devoted friends, Don Holt and Gary Campbell. A few days before his death, friends and loved ones gathered for a candle-light vigil of hope, held in his honor at the Iron Bear in Austin. Those whose lives he touched across the country, also joined on Facebook, where he was showered with love and hope, and prayers of peace for this sweet, young soul. A toast was lifted for Zach, and a river of tears were shed.

Zach graduated in 1995 from Central High School in St. Joseph, MO, and in 2002 from Cox Nursing College in Springfield, MO. He lived for a few years in Kansas City, MO, where he attracted friends and admirers. He worked as a Registered Nurse at KU Medical Center
and Truman Medical Center for a few years and received high accolades from his superiors.

He satisfied some of his lust for travel by working as a Traveling Registered Nurse in New York City, Minneapolis, Reno, and Columbia, MO. He settled into Austin in 2009 and worked as an RN at St. David’s South Medical Center and the Bee Cave Emergency Medical Center. He was loved and admired by his co-workers and especially by his nurse-mate and confidant, Tiffani Bates.

While working in the emergency rooms at various hospitals, Zach witnessed firsthand the horrors that many abandoned LGBTQIA youth had to endure. With so many of them living on the streets, they were subjected to violence and abuse, and it bothered him greatly. He was very thankful for the work that Out Youth of Austin provided those youth in greatest need.

Zach was a lifelong Kansas City Royals baseball fan and gripped his first plastic baseball bat on the day he was born. On that day, his dad sent a photo of “Slugger Zach” to the owner of the Royals and it was promptly displayed on the jumbotron at Kauffman Stadium to
a roar of approval from the crowd.

Zach’s family and friends will miss his quirky antics (he still slept nightly with his tattered, childhood security blanket), mischievous smile, wicked wit, and passion for music. He often stated “music is my life”, and a couple of his current favorites were the Decemberists and Adele.

He found his greatest source of inner peace by going camping, and recently spent the weekend on a fun-filled outing with a large group of friends at the Rainbow Ranch in Groesbeck. Snow-skiing and cooking were his other loves and his pico de gallo was to “die
for,” along with his specialty, mashed cauliflower.

Memorials to Zach are being planned by his legion of friends in Austin and Kansas City during the month of December.