Zion was born and raised in Oceanside, California. He was the definition of the class clown, always pulling pranks, making jokes, and being the funniest person in the room. He was not afraid to mess with his siblings or embarrass them. He moved to Reno, Nevada, his senior year in high school, meeting many lifelong friends and eating all the food at their houses. He enjoyed football, show choir, and seminary.
It was during this time his testimony of Jesus Christ grew, and he decided to serve a mission. When Zion became a missionary, he was ready to hit the pavement running, eager to find people to teach and to testify of Jesus Christ every chance he got. He taught, baptized, and influenced many as he preached the gospel. Ten days after he was released from his mission, the two were engaged and married on December 1, , in the Bountiful Utah Temple.
Zion was excited to be a father and quickly welcomed three beautiful children into their forever family. Zion served six years in the U. Navy, where he distinguished himself as a skilled aviator in the P-8 Poseidon, specializing in anti-submarine warfare. His dedication and excellence earned him the prestigious Naval Aircrewman wings, a token of his expertise and commitment. Throughout his service, Zion went on multiple deployments, often spending long months away from his family.
Despite the hardships of being separated from his loved ones, he remained steadfast in his duty and focused on his mission. Throughout his military service, he never gave up on his dream of playing football and spoke of it often. The very day he was released, he joined his family in Alabama, where all their plans and preparations could finally be pursued. He trained hard and did everything he could to one day walk onto the Alabama football team.
He enjoyed feeling great and being in the best shape of his life when his health took a turn for the worse. Over the course of eight months and many ER visits, Zion broke his tibial plateau, was bedridden, had surgery, blacked out several times, suffered two heart attacks, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and soon after, with leukemia.
