Mikayla Gail Zwald, 17, died Sunday, Oct. 16 at Memorial Medical Center, Modesto.
She was born in Oakdale. She lived in the Valley Home area all of her life, attended Valley Home schools and was a senior at Oakdale High School.
Miss Zwald was active in the FFA, raised cows, and won three first prize ribbons for her cakes she auctioned off at FFA fundraisers. She was also taking floral classes through FFA. Her photography was exhibited at Modesto Junior College. Her lifelong ambition was to be a veterinarian. Her constant companion was her long-haired dachshund named Brody who she took to the Golden Gate Fields race track to compete in races with other wiener dogs.
She is survived by her father, Michael L. Zwald of Farmington; mother, Angela M. Zwald of Modesto; brother, Tres Zwald of Farmington; grandparents, Mike Zwald Sr. of Oakdale, Rodney and Bobbie Caetano of Modesto; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in the area.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Paula Gail Zwald of Farmington.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 21 at Oakdale Family Church of the Nazarene, 1700 West F.
Oakdale Memorial Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Remembrances can be made in the name of Mikayla Zwald Memorial Fund at Chase Bank in Oakdale.