Taegan James Brown

August 18, 2003 - May 10, 2022

Where are you headed son? “To hang out”. Who will you be with? “My friends!”. Can you at least tell me which friends? “Garett and Kade!” Boom, door shut - - - gone. Children rarely provide their parents with the details of their days and nights. Taegan Brown was no exception. His parents Jason and Kim were often left to guess at his whereabouts and activities. What was he doing? As it turns out, the time he spent was exceptional. Under the ambiguous umbrella of “hanging out”, magic was happening. Fixing a car, talking to the parents of a friend, telling a joke, supporting a friend, working, living, singing, dancing, celebration - - - forging friendships, love amplified. Taegan was a Senior at Riverton High School. He was deeply loved by his friends. Taegan returned to his heavenly home on Friday, May 6, 2022, following a tragic accident where he fell from from a Jeep. He was holding on to a strap that unexpectedly broke, flipping him out of the vehicle and hitting his head. That night was typical Taegan, embracing life with close friends, the wind in his hair and a smile on his face. At just 18 years of age, he was in the moment. Teenagers having fun being teenagers. It was never meant to be reckless, never meant to be risky – they were not speeding. A sudden, heartbreaking accident. Two nights later on Sunday, May 8, 2022, the sky was dreary, sullen and cold. The calendar showed late Spring, but the weather felt like March. Skies were leaden, hearts heavy. Through the rain over 400 friends and families emerged, they gathered to pray, embrace, honor and celebrate a young man’s life – the wonderful life of Taegan Brown, our brother, son, friend, teammate, nephew and cousin. Taegan would have hated this attention and praise. The heavens opened, the rain fell, hearts opened, and tears fell. Fellow students, loved ones, parents, family and friends stood in sacred unity at this candlelight vigil. The entrance to Riverton High School became a church, a place of healing for broken hearts. Candle flames flickered in the wind, reflecting the light we all saw in Taegan’s heart. Some were extinguished only to be quickly re-lit by a friend or stranger nearby. Those who attended will be forever moved by the spirit of this gathering. Taegan was a light, he warmed and protected others – doing small things with great love. Athletic and active, Taegan played football throughout his youth with his family on the sidelines, coaching and cheering him on. Taegan loved 4-wheeling, mountain biking and camping. He was fearless in hiking and scaling walls. Taegan was also an accomplished snowboarder, spending many days in the Wasatch mountains, usually at Brighton, UT. His strength was amazing, and he helped create a weightlifting gym in their garage with the help of his parents and Wyatt. Seeing him achieve higher and higher weights was inspiring. He holds the Brown family record for the garage “in your face” deadlift. Taegan Brown, the oldest child in his family was born to Jason and Kimberley Brown in Sandy, UT on August 18, 2003. Taegan’s early days were filled with family, sports, adventure and fun. His 21 cousins were like brothers and sisters to him. To Alex, Andrew, Bailey, Brianne, Colby, Cree, Dakota, Emily, Giovanni, Jordan, Kaden, Kayla, Kennedi, Kensington, Kiana, Kiley, Nick, Peyton, Sienna, Sierra and Tana - Taegan loved you with all his heart! Camping with his family was a big part of his life. Memorable family trips included adventures to Glacier National Park, Sequoia National Park, Oceanside California, Moab, Miller’s Flat and more. We will never forget the images of Taegan dancing with Grandpa Greg at Fish Lake. Taegan was an accomplished dancer, and it was Taegan and Greg who reminded all of us to ‘dance like no one is watching’. Taegan learned to work hard at a very young age. He was an entrepreneur, building his own lawn mowing business and expanding to multiple clients throughout the neighborhood. This business began with ingenious logistics. At first, he would ride his hoverboard, pushing his mower from house to house. As the business grew, he graduated to stage two. He would use the family four-wheeler hooked up to his dad’s 12-foot flatbed trailer – it was a sight to see. It doesn’t end there; the business expanded and he recruited his brother and his cousin to help. He was gifted a Go-cart from his cousin Cree. The boys talked their parents into getting a trailer hitch welded to the back of the Go-cart. With profits from business, he bought a small flatbed trailer, which he hooked to the Go-cart. The world’s first Go-cart lawnmowing business. He demonstrated his meticulous nature in all of his work. At the time of his passing, he worked as an Apprentice Carpenter for Riddle Custom Construction. His boss Jerry was a great mentor to Taegan, and Jerry treated him like his own son – maybe a little better. He loved his co-workers. His tools were vital to his trade, and his loyalty was to Dewalt. No one loved or cared for their tools like Taegan. Taegan was immovable in his purpose, was he stubborn? Yes! But it went much deeper than that for Taegan. He was decisive and resolute. He loved this scene from The Office, and it was so much like him: Dwight to Jim: I need you to promise me that you’ll be on your best behavior. Jim: I promised other people that I’d be on my worst behavior, and I gave ‘em my word so … His word was everything to him. If he said it, he was committed, and you knew he would follow through. From the time he was just a boy, he was unwavering. On a family trip to California, everyone went together to Disneyland. When the group separated later in the day, Kim gave her phone directly to the 8-year-old son Taegan. She reminded him, “You are responsible for this phone, and don’t let anyone else use it”. The battery was getting low; and Kim wanted him to only use it in an emergency. Taegan listened intently and took every word to heart. When the park was closing, the other mobile phones lost power, with only Taegan’s phone working. The adults asked Taegan for the phone. He responded, “No, I am not giving you the phone!” “My mom told me that I am responsible for this phone.” Taegan was not swayed by the adults. He did not give up the phone. He was emotional and ended up in tears, but he would not falter. Funeral Services: Thursday, May 12th Viewing 6 PM to 8 PM – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15429 S. Iron Horse Blvd, Bluffdale, Utah *Friday, May 13th Viewing 9 AM to 10:30 AM – at the church 10:30 AM – Family Prayer 11 AM – Chapel Funeral Services Graveside Services – Larkin Mortuary Sunset Gardens – 1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84092 *As a note, Taegan’s funeral will be on Friday the 13th. We are good with the date, after all Taegan has often quoted Michael Scott by saying, “I’m not Superstitious, I’m just a little stitious”. Taegan was known for his dry, witty and sometimes irreverent sense of humor. Taegan was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Gregory James Brown and Herman Robert de Mik and his uncle, Justin James Brown. Taegan is survived by his parents, Jason and Kimberley Brown, brothers Wyatt, Kavik and Shale (Peck), grandmothers Kathy (Mathis) Brown and Connie (Labrum) de Mik, and great grandmother Jeanne (Crumbo) Labrum. Taegan was a fierce defender of his family and friends. Like the song says, “Yeah, I believe ‘em when they say you’re in a better place. You had a wild side, but you had Amazing Grace!” You truly had amazing grace. We love you Taegan.