Help Honor Michele Scameheorn with a Memorial at the Zoo

Hello, my name is Gabriel Scameheorn, and I’m writing today with a heavy heart and a hopeful request: to help honor the life and memory of my wife, Michele Scameheorn, with a memorial at the Nashville Zoo — a place that brought her so much joy, wonder, and peace.

Michele passed away on June 25, 2025, and her absence has left an immeasurable space in my life and in the lives of everyone who knew and loved her. But even in grief, I want to celebrate the light she brought into the world — and one of the most meaningful ways I can do that is by creating a lasting tribute in the place she loved most. She was proudly the mother of strays, saw the value in the broken, and her heart was full taking care of those that needed her.

The zoo wasn’t just a favorite spot — it was her happy place. She lit up around animals and deeply connected with them, especially the ones most people overlooked. She had a special love for the bats, frogs, and the big cats — creatures she admired for their mystery, beauty, and power. She could spend hours watching the graceful pacing of a tiger, the delicate wonder of the poison dart frogs, or quietly observing the fruit bats hanging upside down in their cave. She believed every creature had a story worth knowing. The zoo was a place where she felt deeply at home, and I know she’d be honored to be remembered there.

To celebrate her life and keep her spirit alive, I’m hoping to establish a memorial in her name at the zoo. This might be a bench, a plaque, a tree, or another tribute depending on the zoo’s options, but the goal is simple: to create a peaceful place where friends, family, and fellow visitors can pause, reflect, and feel her presence.

The cost of the memorial is $5,500, and any funds raised will go directly toward that purpose. If we are fortunate enough to raise more than we need, the remaining funds will be donated to feline rescue efforts that Michele was dedicated to, such as veterinary care at Cats on Commerce for those in need, as well as Cats R Us Feline Rescue.

I know times are hard for many, so please know that any amount, no matter how small, means the world. If you’re not able to give, sharing this page with others is also a tremendous help.

If you knew Michele, you know how deeply she cared for others, human and animal alike. If you didn’t know her, I hope this memorial helps you feel the love she had for the natural world and her place in it.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for helping keep her memory alive in a place she truly loved.

With gratitude,

Gabriel, Katrina, and Dimitrius Scameheorn