Dejuan Lee Gilmore

Dejuan Lee Gilmore, 53, born September 26th, 1972 in Dayton, OH, departed this life unexpectedly on Sunday, January 18th, 2026 at the local hospital. He was educated in the Springfield City School system and was a 1990 graduate of South High School. At the time of his passing, he was employed at Navistar as a Quality Inspector. Dejuan was preceded in death by his father, Smythe Gilmore, stepfather, Roy Hasting, maternal grandparents, Paul M. Green, Sr. and Leota M. Brooks, and paternal grandparents, William S. Gatewood and Mayme L. Chenault all of Dayton, OH. He leaves to cherish in his precious memory his three children whom he adored with his entire heart: D’Juan (Hailee) Gilmore of Clifton Park, NY; Desmond Gilmore of Dayton, OH; and Queen Gilmore of Houston, TX; two beautiful grandchildren Mia Brown and DeMaricus Gilmore; his loving and devoted mother, Karen Sylvia Hasting of Springfield, OH; brothers, Herman (Karen) Banks of Springfield, OH; Charles Sweeney of Dayton, OH; sisters Tarina (Edward) Jackson of Chattanooga, TN; Daneen Gilmore of Jonesville, NC; Brandi Brewster of Atlanta, GA; and Shanessa Sweeney of Atlanta, GA. 

Dejuan was a protective and supportive uncle to a host of nieces and nephews who affectionately named him “Uncle Juan”. If you know Dejuan, then you know he had a big heart, a sensitive spirit, a kind disposition and he never met a stranger. He was witty, funny, smart, easy-going, he loved to entertain, and he enjoyed a good banter, especially concerning anything sports related. Dejuan had a special talent… the gift of grilling. If you were to have ever had his bar-be-que, you were blessed by some of the best! As a master griller and BBQ enthusiast, it was nothing for him to fire up the grill in some of the most brutal, inclement Ohio weather, as if it were the 4th of July. No matter if you were a relative, friend, co-worker, or neighbor, you could count on Dejuan to make your day a little brighter. If it's by way of a perfectly executed joke or snide remark, him delivering a plate of food, lending a helping hand, or offering an encouraging word, Dejuan had a unique way of shining his light radiantly in this world.

Visitation at Restored Life Ministries will be Saturday January 24th, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by the Jones-Kenney-Zechman Funeral Home. Condolences may be shared online at www.jkzfh.com.

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