Brayden Jake Zhang

Brayden was the beloved son of Ren yu Zhang and Kari Zhang, who were blessed to call him their world. He is survived by his Grandpa Z, Zhaonan Zhang; his Aunt Kylie and Uncle Jeff Smith of Columbus, Ohio; and his Uncle Kevin and Aunt Jess Towers with cousins Clare and Cameron of Middletown, Maryland. He is predeceased by his Grandma Z, Gui-zhen Zhang, and by his Grandpa T and Grammy, Robert and Carolyn Towers, who affectionately called him “the prince” and now welcome him with open arms.

From the very beginning, Brayden’s energy and curiosity shone brightly. When he learned to walk at 11 months, he never stopped—always bouncing, hopping, or running wherever he went. He grew up surrounded by books, asking his parents to read to him over and over until he proudly read them back himself. Before even starting school, he had memorized cookbooks, learned all the states and capitals, and developed a fascination with his favorite animal, the polar bear.

A smart and dedicated student, Brayden was on track to receive high honors from Advanced Technologies Academy. His love of learning continued throughout his life—from his early passion for the performing arts, including marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, to being selected as a guest Ringmaster for the Ringling Brothers Circus at age 10, to seven years of drum lessons and guitar class in high school, to his later passion for numbers, computers, data, research, and experiments. He often left random items around the house, grinning when asked to clean them up and insisting, “It’s an experiment—I can’t!”

Brayden visited 30 states, 19 capitals, 8 national parks, and 3 countries, with Japan next on his list for 2026. He loved history, memorized all the presidents, visited several presidential libraries, and could even tell you who was in office when you were born. He also had a fascination with the Titanic—building models of it, reading about it, and watching the movie.

Always responsible, When Brayden received his first cell phone, he always enjoyed texting and calling family from middle school onward, keeping them updated on his interests and adventures. He loved to write—whether movie reviews for his Aunt to read, or detailed documents proposing which Seahawks game he should attend and what would happen if the game was flexed. Recently, he earned his driver’s license, a milestone that filled him with pride. He loved to drive—whether to school, work, running errands, or simply enjoying the freedom of the open road. He cherished his after-school job and took great pride in his work, showing responsibility and independence beyond his years. His coworkers loved how he could perform tasks flawlessly whether simple or complex, and appreciated the fun conversations he had with everyone.

Brayden’s interests made him uniquely himself. He had a passion for gaming—building his own computer, which he proudly called his “rig”—as well as streaming, movies, spreadsheets, Monster Trucks, and carefully crafted Spotify playlists. He enjoyed shopping trips to Target and visits to Dave & Buster’s, where he proudly used his tickets to win the biggest stuffed animals. His go-to favorites included McDonald’s Diet Coke, cheese pizza, Chick-fil-A, and hummus with pita, but nothing compared to his favorite meals of spaghetti and pizza, homemade by his mom. Some of his happiest moments were spent with his dad at Buffalo Wild Wings on Seattle game days. Brayden also found joy in the water, spending hours swimming in the pool, playing with the garden hose, or even splashing at the kitchen sink. A natural collector, he gathered and archived Seattle memorabilia, Pokémon cards, Monster Trucks, stuffed animals, t-shirts, video games, and DVDs—each reflecting a piece of his personality.

He cheered on the Seattle Mariners, celebrating when they recently made the playoffs, and was a loyal, vocal supporter of the Seattle Seahawks—always reminding everyone, “Go Hawks!” His favorite outfit was a pair of pajamas, a perfect reflection of his comfort in being authentically himself. He was never stingy with sharing hugs and his infectious smile and laugh, and he brought joy to everyone around him.

Above all, Brayden loved with the biggest heart. He was kind, thoughtful, and full of life. His family and friends will continue to carry his love forward, reminding the world of the incredibly special boy he was.

A celebration of life for Brayden will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Palm Mortuary - Northwest, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131, followed by a reception from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

“The family asks that those attending Brayden's celebration of life wear their favorite sports team jersey or shirt."