Zachary Bryan McMahan, 31, died peacefully Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. Born May 20, 1993, Zachary spent his entire 31 years in Elizabethtown. Zach graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 2012 after managing the track, cross country, and basketball teams and being selected Most School Spirit for his Panther support. Zach worked at E’town Swim and Fitness for years after graduating and enjoyed greeting people and helping out.
Zach always assisted. Zach was reliable, never complained, and pushed himself to the limit at school, work, and home. Zach was born with Cystic Fibrosis and limited, but he was joyful from the start. Zach was cautious and quiet with his family but loved them. Even as a child, he thought it was humorous to call his parents Dana and Kelly instead of Mom and Dad. Zach tried to control his older brother Daniel, behaving more like a second mother than a brother.
Zach rarely travelled, but he did so for exciting destinations. His favourite excursions were to New York City and Washington, D.C., where he visited President Bush for Make a Wish. He even travelled to California to see the cast of his favourite show Emergency 51 at the opening of the Los Angeles County Fire Fighter Museum. Zach even travelled the country in American Truck Simulator by joining a global gang of virtual truck drivers in his final years. No matter the occasion—a Sunday dinner, a birthday, or the extravagant Christmas celebrations—his Mimi and Papaw’s house was his favourite place to spend with his aunts, uncles, and cousins. Music was his passion, and he attended many concerts of his favourite bands. While watching TV with his mom and the household dog, Zoey, then Abby, he built a huge collection of Halo Lego sets.
Zach was his family’s soul and will be missed. Though his sickness prevented him from doing many of his contemporaries’ hobbies, Zach never complained and lived a full life with his family. Zach’s grandparents, Robert (Bobby) McMahan and Alpha Joel Miller Squyres, aunts Peggy and Patrease, and uncle Earl H. Squyres Jr. died before him.
Kelly and Dana McMahan of Elizabethtown, Daniel Bradley of Louisville, Barbara Jean McMahan, Kim (Patrick) Black, Karen (John) Willmoth, and Mary Joan Miramontez, and many loving relatives survive him. Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown hosts visitation Friday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. He will be buried privately in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.
Zach was saved by UofL Health-Jewish Hospital’s amazing doctors, nurses, and staff. While he and his family wanted more, the 18 months his double lung transplant in February 2023 afforded them were meaningful and unrepayable to his donor family. Zach’s family requests donations to Kim’s Dream in lieu of flowers to aid other families going through the worst. Money goes directly to helping families with severely ill loved ones waiting for life.
