Kyra Shandelle Pace

Our strong, brave, kind, positive, and beautiful Kyra (23) passed away peacefully at home on July 26, 2023, surrounded by her loving family and her fierce protector chihuahua “Zoey,” after a valiant, courageous, 10-year battle with brain cancer.

Kyra was born November 29, 1999, at American Fork Hospital to Jerry and Julie Pace, nine days past her due date and on her own terms. She was well worth the wait, both parents were immediately smitten with her.

Kyra was a fun, happy child and loved spending time with family. She had an unbroken bond with her father Jerry, they did many things outdoors together, and were as close as a father and daughter could be. She loved all of her family and was very close with her cousins, but was closest with her best friend and “partner in crime,” her sister Kazia. Kyra loved driving around in her car, music, playing her violin, painting, and art, dressing up in fun themes, learning, and always making people laugh with her incredible sense of humor.

Kyra excelled in school, she loved to learn and always put 100% into all she did. She received many awards throughout her schooling and graduated from American Fork high school with high honors in 2018 a week after undergoing brain surgery.

Kyra always had an interest in the medical field, just like her mother (Julie), and was able to work alongside her mom at American Fork Hospital ER, where she helped many patients with her compassion and kindness. Kyra was an amazing example to everyone she came in contact with, she encountered many medical battles and fought them with determination and a smile. Kyra wanted to be a stroke awareness educator, she was currently finishing her degree at the University of Utah, in exercise, kinesiology and community health.

Kyra is survived by her parents; Jerry Pace and Julie Pace and her sister Kazia Pace. Her grandparents; Michael and Cindy Denbow, Jim and Joy Crismon, and Gerald and Karen Pace. Her aunts and uncles; Jana (Greg) Johanson, Jerome (Lindsey) Pace, Candiss Pace, Amanda (Aaron) Terry, Megan (Zeb) Marchbanks, Cole (Melissa) Denbow, Jill (Rigo) Contreras, James (Maureen) Crismon, Jody (Cody) Birch, and many cousins and friends.

Special thanks to Dr. Whipple, Dr. Bollo, Dr. Poppe, and all of the amazing staff at Primary Children’s Hospital, American Fork Hospital, and her therapists, Leslie, Drew, and Andy who helped with her post-stroke rehabilitation. You all meant so much to her.

Funeral services will include a viewing Sunday, July 30, 2023 from 6 to 8 PM at the Anderson and Sons Lone Peak chapel, 6141 West 11000 North, Highland. Funeral services will be Monday, July 31st, at 11 AM with a viewing beforehand, starting at 9:45 AM, at the American Fork 18th Ward LDS chapel located at 381 South 300 East, following the funeral there will be a graveside service at 12:30 PM at American Fork Cemetery.