Ava Grace Markus, 16, of Cold Spring, KY, was involved in an accident around 5:51 PM on October 2nd, 2022 at the intersection of St. Michael Drive & Alexandria Pike in Cold Spring, KY. She was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where she received care for the trauma to her brain. Ava continued fighting until October 11, 2022. We will be forever grateful for the incredible care and community support Ava received during this tragedy.

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Ava was born in Fort Thomas, KY on October 27, 2005. She is a loving daughter, sister, and friend to so many. Ava was a student at Campbell County High School where she was a varsity cheerleader on the competition team and a member of the Northern Kentucky Allstars Supernova team. She was a former competitive gymnast at Top Flight Gymnastics. There simply wasn’t anything Ava couldn’t do.

 

Ava loved Skyline chili, root beer, frozen pizza, oyster crackers, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and her family and friends. She was quirky, spunky, feisty, and as one of her friends described her, “5’-2” with an attitude”. She was the comedic relief for so many and brought joy and laughter everywhere she went. Those who had the pleasure to spend time with her got to see the genuine, empathetic, honest, passionate, selfless person who was unapologetically Ava.

 

It would be impossible to completely describe this amazing girl. Ava was a high-achieving student. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was always taking advanced, honors, or dual credit classes. She was a friend to everyone and loved by so many as evidenced by the huge outpouring of community support.

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Ava's final act of kindness was giving the greatest gift of all, the gift of life. Many of Ava's friends and family took part in her honor walk on October 13, 2022, as a final tribute to this amazing young lady. Ava's precious gift of her heart saved the life of a teenager from the Midwest. Through the gift of her liver, Ava saved two lives. She saved the life of a baby and the mother of one from the Eastern United States. The gift of Ava's kidneys also touched the lives of two individuals. The first recipient is a married mother of four from the South. Ava's second kidney recipient also received the gift of her pancreas. Ava also donated her corneas, which means she gave the gift of sight to two people. Ava also donated bone and soft tissue, which means she may quite possibly help 40-50 additional people over the next five years.

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Ava Grace leaves behind parents Deanna (nee Kelley) and Brian Markus; three siblings, Austin Markus, Allison Markus, and Ashtyn Markus; four grandparents, Sherry (nee Tiemeyer) and Mike Kelley, Karen (nee Kuntz) and Terry Markus; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. A celebration of Life was held Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 1 PM - 4 PM at the Campbell County Middle School, 8000 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria, KY.