Colin Clare Wilcoxson

Colin Clare Wilcoxson, known lovingly as “CaCa”, passed away on August 7, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 26 years old. Born on April 6, 2000, in Cottonwood, Arizona, Colin grew up with a creative spirit that would shape every chapter of his far-too-brief life.

Colin graduated from American Heritage Academy in 2018 and immediately set out to prove that passion and dedication could forge a path without a traditional college degree. His first photographs were published in Highland Autos magazine in 2020, and by August of 2021 he had created his first creative video. From 2021-2023, Colin worked for Vivid Racing, where he developed creative content for the company's social media account. After leaving Vivid Racing, Colin pursued a new career as a Creative Director for Turn-Style, a Queen Creek-based business. In 2024, he began his own marketing business, Hopeseed Marketing, where he represented several Verde Valley businesses. He later continued his career as a Marketing Coordinator and Administrative Assistant at Vertex Wealth Advisors in Scottsdale. No matter where his career took him, Colin never stopped creating.

Colin was a creative, kind, unforgettable young man whose presence brought laughter, love, and light to the lives of so many. Anyone who knew Colin knew how hilarious he was. He had an incredible ability to make family, friends, business partners, and even complete strangers laugh. His humor, creativity, and genuine spirit made him someone people were naturally drawn to. Colin felt everything deeply and loved with his whole heart. He was trustworthy, honest, kind, and caring, and he was always there for the people he loved when they needed him. Colin had a gift for teaching and took great pride in sharing what he knew, whether it was teaching someone how to take proper care of their cars, how to drive, sharing his tips with photography and/or managing their finances. He was especially devoted to his mom and sister, making sure they were cared for in every way he could. Colin also cherished the relationship he was rebuilding with his dad. Through forgiveness and a renewed father-and-son bond that meant so much to them both.

More than anything, Colin cherished time with his best friends and family. He even found a family of his own that wasn't blood related. Those moments, filled with laughter, conversation, adventure, and connection, meant the most to him. He leaves behind countless memories and the unmistakable imprint of a life lived creatively, passionately, and authentically.

Photography was his first love, and he enjoyed working on his computer, transforming photographs and videos into something uniquely his own. He began a collection of beautiful vintage cameras. His talent for creating video content, particularly for automobiles, quickly became one of his greatest passions. He was fearless when it came to getting the perfect shot and could often be found hanging out of a moving vehicle window—or even the trunk—to capture the video or photo that he envisioned.

He absolutely loved the Oregon Coast, where he found a sense of calm and peace. He loved the nightlife, strolling through the Art Walk in Scottsdale, meeting friends and family for dinner, and simply watching people live their lives to the fullest. He loved riding in fast cars and couldn't wait to tell anyone who would listen about the thrill of being lifted out of his seat in a Lamborghini.

Colin's life was a work of art in progress—full of chapters, unexpected turns, beautiful landscapes, and stories still waiting to be told. Though his journey was far too short, the art he created, the laughter he shared, and the love he gave will continue through everyone whose life he touched.

“A work of art is not an endpoint in itself.

It’s a station on a journey.

A chapter in our lives.

We acknowledge these transitions

By documenting each of them.”

“Taking a wrong turn

allows you to see landscapes

you wouldn’t otherwise have seen.”

“The reason we’re alive

is to express ourselves in the world.

And creating art may be the most

effective and beautiful method of doing so.

Art goes beyond language, beyond lives.

It’s a universal way to send messages

between each other and through time.”

-Rick Rubin

The Creative Art: A Way of Being