The Wilson Family: Jeff, Amber, and Shiloh Wilson: July 4, 2025

Editor’s Note: In the absence of formal obituaries for the Wilson family, The Kerr County Lead has compiled this obituary based on extensive research from multiple news sources, family statements, and community tributes to honor their memory and preserve their legacy.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic loss of the Wilson family – Jeff Wilson, 55, Amber Wilson, 45, and their beloved 12-year-old son Shiloh “Stingray” Wilson – who died together in the devastating floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country in the early morning hours of July 4, 2025. Known affectionately as “The Wilson 3,” this inseparable family was swept away while camping at the HTR RV Park in Kerrville, where they had traveled for Shiloh’s rodeo competition.

A Family That Lived and Loved Together

Those who knew the Wilson family described them as inseparable – “stuck together like glue.” Family friend Clint Wilson captured their bond perfectly: “If you saw one of them, the other two were really near. They never went anywhere apart. They always traveled together. They were very tight and full of love.”

Jeff Wilson: A Dedicated Educator and Mentor

Jeff Wilson was a beloved educator who spent 30 years in the Humble Independent School District, leaving an indelible mark on generations of students. He began his career in 1995 as a welding teacher at Humble High School, where he worked for 12 years before moving to Kingwood Park High School when it opened in 2007.

At Kingwood Park, Jeff created the school’s auto body program and led the career and technical education (CTE) department. He specialized in building connections with “kids who didn’t always fit the traditional classroom mold,” becoming a father figure to countless students over three decades.

Jeff’s expertise extended far beyond the classroom. He held teaching certificates in manufacturing technology, collision and refinishing technology, cooperative learning, and technology education. He was actively involved with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the Collision Industry Conference, sharing his knowledge and passion for automotive education throughout the industry.

Colleagues remembered Jeff as someone who “was always at the heart of any discussion about education, never holding back his honest opinions.” Industry professional Adan Ibarra described him as “tough as an ox with a heart of gold, a man of his word whose unwavering morals made the world a better place.”

Jeff’s impact on students extended well beyond graduation. Jason Wagner, whom Jeff taught manufacturing systems in 1996, became a lifelong friend. They spent decades together on deer leases with their children, and Jeff served as Wagner’s best man at his wedding, with young Shiloh as an usher and groomsman. “We got videos with him dancing with my daughter at her wedding, he’s been a big part of my family’s life,” Wagner recalled.

The Cowboy’s Heart: Jeff’s Rodeo Legacy

Before his teaching career, Jeff was a champion bull rider and rodeo competitor. His rodeo career was cut short by a motorcycle accident in 2004 that shattered his leg and damaged several organs, but his love for the sport never diminished. Instead, he channeled that passion into raising and mentoring his son Shiloh, passing on not just rodeo skills but the cowboy values of respect, hard work, and integrity.

Industry colleague Adan Ibarra shared a story that exemplified Jeff’s approach to parenting and rodeo: During Shiloh’s championship run, the horse stepped on the boy’s head, giving him a concussion and cutting him behind the ear. Following doctor’s orders, Shiloh couldn’t play baseball the next week and was upset about it. When Shiloh drew the same bronc for the finals, father and son discussed it carefully. Shiloh got back on the bronc and won the finals – a testament to the courage and determination Jeff instilled in his son.

Amber Wilson: The Heart of the Family

Amber Wilson was described by all who knew her as “the sweetest person” and “the glue holding their family together.” She was the devoted heart of the Wilson family, supporting Jeff’s teaching career and Shiloh’s rodeo dreams while creating a loving home filled with warmth and laughter.

Friends spoke of Amber’s gentle nature and her unwavering support for her family. She was deeply loved not just by Jeff and Shiloh, but by the entire extended community that had become part of the Wilson family over the years. Her brother, Champions Fire Division Chief Dustin Ledford, worked tirelessly in the flood recovery efforts, demonstrating the same dedication to service that characterized Amber’s approach to family and community.

Shiloh “Stingray” Wilson: A Champion in the Making

Shiloh Wilson, known throughout the rodeo world as “Stingray,” was a third-generation cowboy who had already achieved remarkable success in his young career. At just 12 years old, he was a two-time rodeo champion and the 2024 Rookie Junior World Champion in saddle bronc riding – an extraordinary accomplishment for someone so young.

David Bender, a longtime friend of Jeff’s, captured Shiloh’s exceptional talent: “Shiloh Stingray, he’s just a little stud. God gave him a gift, and he had the gift and the ability to ride broncs.” Despite his success, Shiloh remained humble and respectful, always addressing adults as “yes, sir” and “no, sir,” reflecting the values Jeff and Amber had instilled in him.

The bond between Shiloh and his father was particularly special. Before every ride, Shiloh would tell his dad, “I love you,” and Jeff would always reply, “I love you back, son.” This tradition continued right up to their final weekend together, embodying the love and connection that defined their relationship.

When searchers found Shiloh’s rodeo trunk nearly 13 miles from the campsite, they discovered something that surprised and comforted everyone: alongside his tack and cowboy gear, the young champion carried two Bibles. As one pastor noted during his memorial service, “Now remember — this was a 12-year-old boy, a rodeo guy, a world champ. And instead of only tack or cowboy gear, he carried two Bibles.”

The Final Weekend: A Family Tradition Cut Short

The Wilson family had traveled to Kerrville for a youth rodeo at the Youth Expo Center, continuing their tradition of traveling together to support Shiloh’s competitions. They were camping in their RV at the HTR RV Park, looking forward to another opportunity for Shiloh to compete and for the family to enjoy their shared passion.

The family spent their last evening dancing at a restaurant, creating one final joyful memory together. When the floods struck in the early morning hours of July 4, all three family members were swept away together. Their truck was later found in the water, but without the family or their camper attached.

A Community United in Grief

The loss of the Wilson family sent shockwaves through multiple communities. Humble ISD, where Jeff had taught for three decades, the rodeo community that had watched Shiloh’s rise to championship level, and the Kingwood/Humble area where they lived all came together to mourn and honor their memory.

A prayer vigil was held at Kingwood’s Town Center Park, where hundreds gathered to remember the family. Humble ISD wrote: “Jeff worked in Humble ISD for 30 years at both Humble High School and Kingwood Park High School. He was a beloved teacher and co-worker to many and will be deeply missed.”

The Journey Home

The community’s love for the Wilson family was perhaps most powerfully demonstrated in the 200-mile procession that brought Shiloh home to be reunited with his parents. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office led the official procession from Kerrville to Kingwood, with hundreds of people lining the route to honor the young champion’s final journey home.

The procession included members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, local rodeo associations, and law enforcement from multiple cities. As the escort made its way through Texas, communities came together to pay their respects. Misty Worrell of Humble BBQ and Rodeo reflected the feelings of many: “When he was loaded into the hearse and we got into the procession and we drove away from the funeral home, all I could keep saying was, ‘Okay, we’re taking him home. He’s with us now. We’ve got him.'”

Memorial Services and Final Tributes

Funeral services for Jeff, Amber, and Shiloh were held at the Humble Civic Center, where the community gathered one final time to celebrate their lives. The service was filled with stories that captured the essence of who they were – a family that lived with love, integrity, and an unbreakable bond.

Speakers shared how the family exemplified the strength of their connection in both life and death. The discovery of Shiloh’s two Bibles in his rodeo gear became a powerful symbol of the faith that sustained the family, while the tradition of “I love you” and “I love you back, son” reminded everyone of the deep love that defined their relationship.

Legacy and Remembrance

The Wilson family’s legacy lives on in multiple ways. Shiloh’s custom saddle and rodeo gear, found during the search, were sent to the Wyoming custom saddle maker who originally crafted them. The maker offered to restore everything as a tribute to the young champion’s memory.

A memorial fund was established to support both sides of the family as they coordinated funeral arrangements and sought to bring comfort to one another. The fund raised over $51,000, demonstrating the widespread love and respect the Wilson family had earned throughout their communities.

Survivors

The Wilson family is survived by their extended family, including Amber’s brother Champions Fire Division Chief Dustin Ledford, who worked tirelessly in the flood recovery efforts. They are also survived by one small family member – their beloved Chihuahua, Shelby, who is safe and in good care but “misses her humans dearly.”

Most importantly, they are survived by the thousands of students Jeff taught, the colleagues he mentored, the friends who became family, and the entire rodeo community that watched Shiloh grow into a champion. Their legacy lives on in every student who learned not just technical skills but life values from Jeff, in every young rodeo rider inspired by Shiloh’s success and character, and in every person who experienced Amber’s kindness and the family’s unbreakable love.

In Their Memory

The Wilson family – Jeff, Amber, and Shiloh “Stingray” – will be remembered not just for their individual achievements, but for the extraordinary love they shared and the way they lived as an inseparable unit. They were “The Wilson 3” in life, and they remain together in death, a family whose love was so strong that even tragedy could not break their bond.

As friend David Bender reflected: “I’m thankful that God was able to put all three of them back together and be the Wilson Three again.”

Their story reminds us that while life can be unpredictably brief, the impact of love, dedication, and integrity can last forever. In classrooms across Humble ISD, in rodeo arenas throughout Texas, and in the hearts of everyone who knew them, the Wilson family’s legacy of love, learning, and living life to the fullest will continue to inspire for generations to come.

Jeff Wilson, Amber Wilson, and Shiloh “Stingray” Wilson – a family that lived together, loved together, and will be remembered together forever.