Your whole post is an interesting walk-through idea about death and spirit. I don't think the spirit can be killed or die, but it can be sleeping and then awakened.
My friend, sirguessalot, could say more about the subjects. I have experienced a little of it, or a lot, but can't find the words yet.
If one is dead then there needs to be a birth or awakening, like a seed in the ground, goes in without life and sprouts into life.