SHELTON — With 150 friends and family members quietly looking upward into a warm, cloudless sky Saturday, 11 skydivers jumped in memory of Zachary Victor Fogle during an evening memorial service at Skydive Kapowsin, near Shelton.

During the sunset dive from 13,000 feet, Fogle’s ashes were released into the air by his father, Douglas Fogle, as Zachary’s final dive for all to see and honor. The tribute was widely thought by attendees to be equal to the nature of Fogle’s determination to live life to its fullest, concluding in the great adventure he loved.

Fogle, 27, of Kingston died July 30 after his parachute failed to open during an 18,000-foot dive at the annual Lost Prairie Skydiving Boogie, near Marion, Mont. Investigators ruled the death accidental. Just over a month later, standing on the tarmac below and surrounded by loved ones, Zachary’s mother was deeply moved and relieved by the site of her son’s ashes being released, knowing at that moment her son was finally released from the physical constraints of the world.

“I don’t think the sadness will go away for a long time,” Claudia Fogle said. “I didn’t know I would be so affected by the ashes but I felt a strong release … It was his release from things of the world. Symbolically, he was part of the sky and part of the universe. At that moment, I believed those ashes were never going to fall to the ground.”

As a veteran skydiver with more than 125 dives on record, Fogle had limited mobility because of injuries he sustained in a car wreck at age 17. The injuries, however, did not stop him from ultimately certifying as a solo skydiver or exploring and living life to its fullest.

“He was not one to be cheated,” said Rob Rebar, a close family friend.

“Everything he did was epic,” said Jackie Cimino, a paraplegic who first met Fogle as a student at the University of Arizona. “You couldn’t help but jump on Zack’s adventure train. He made everything possible. He was the most fun-loving, adventure-loving. He was thoughtful and a listener. Zack made every conversation not just wonderful, but fabulous.”

Kristan Leech, who is studying at Northwestern University to be a therapist, also met Fogle at the University of Arizona. Overcome with emotion at the moment she saw the ashes, Leech found herself at peace with the sight.

“It was beautiful, exactly what he wanted, “ she said. “I couldn’t have imagined a better way to honor his life.

“When I met Zack in the disability resource center, he was so determined to overcome the odds and prove everyone wrong,” Leech said. “He was frustrated with the therapy and those who told him it was impractical or unlikely to ever walk again. He really got to me and made me want to be the kind of therapist that gave hope to people and be as much for them as I could — give hope for them to continue on working hard.”

As his last chance to give tribute to Fogle, Evan McKay decided to make his first tandem parachute jump during the memorial service. McKay, a close friend of the family, is also a paraplegic.

“I did it for my first dive because Zack wanted me to dive,” McKay said. “It was for Zack and all the fear and anxiety of the first time simply went away. That was the last tribute I could do to show my appreciation for Zack and his family.”

Fogle is survived by his parents, Douglas and Claudia Fogle of Kingston; siblings Megan Fogle, Dr. Jay Fogle and Nick Fogle; and niece Jaeda Juarez Fogle.

“He simply had a gift,” Douglas Fogle said. “And he was able to touch a lot of people to encourage them to do things they didn’t think they could do. We will all miss him terribly.”