Jeffery Eugene Bauman's Obituary
In the mid-1970s, Debra Ann Story vacationed in Hawaii where she met her future husband, Gene (Eugene) Bauman. They married a year or so later and soon their first son, Jeffery Eugene Bauman was born on September 14, 1977, and little brother Andy followed in 1985. Jeff grew up in the Hunter neighborhood of Salt Lake Valley and graduated from Hunter High School in 1995 where he played soccer and skied every chance he could. Jeff loved anything and everything to do with sports and the outdoors, but he was passionate about skiing and soccer. Thanks to Debra and Gene’s frequent summer and winter trips to places like Yellowstone, Island Park, Glacier, and Grandma Jane’s cabin in Fairview, Jeff was bitten early by the Adventure-Travel Bug.
Soon after graduating, Jeff interviewed and was hired by Delta Airlines. He thought, What a great gig, they pay me and I get to fly FREE all over the world! And travel he did. He even took seasonal jobs for Delta in Jackson Hole and Alaska. Before the age of 35 he had visited five out of the seven continents and over 40 countries. His bucket list got short very fast: Hike a volcano in Iceland - check! Explore an Aztec temple - check! Stand in the shadow of the Great Pyramids at Giza - check! Drink a Guiness in an Irish Pub - check!
Of course, Jeff’s life also includes a love story. In 2010, a receptionist at his dentist’s office, aware of his intrepid travels, said, “You travel a lot; we have a patient who travels too and you should meet her.” Soon after, Jeff met Michelle (Moore) and they became lifelong travel buddies. Their adventures are the makings of a storybook. No kidding, he proposed to her at Machu Picchu and they married on a beach on Maui for heaven’s sake! They drank wine in Paris and kissed at the top of the Eiffel Tower (probably French kissed, but Michelle isn’t disclosing). Ate sushi in Tokyo. Cheered for Americans at the 2012 London Olympics. Watched sunsets on the Italian Riviera. Camped with lions, zebras, and giraffes in Kruger National Park in South Africa. In 2014 they completed their Travel Holy Grail with a cruise to Antarctica. All seven continents together!
Little Lucas was born in January 2016. Jeff and Michelle’s globe-trotting gave way to parenthood, which suited them greatly. Jeff adored his son and the feeling was mutual. As Lucas grew, their international travel shifted to trips closer to home, including snowmobiling in Yellowstone, camping at Grand Canyon’s North Rim, drinking margaritas in Puerto Vallarta, whale watching in Alaska, and mountain and desert camping with their side-by-side in tow. Their adventures were not as exotic, but the passion and zeal were unchanged. Lucas is now almost seven and he reminds everyone of Jeff. With his energy and zeal for play it is certain he will follow in Jeff’s footsteps.
Jeff’s motto was, “You work to live, not live to work,” and he truly lived life fully with seldom a dull moment. His presence never went unnoticed. He always wore shorts with crazy, colorful socks, even in January. Jeff’s was always the loudest laughter in the room. He was never shy and looked for every opportunity to say something funny (often cringeworthy) or share a good story (always colorful). If you were offended, Jeff would have said, “Get over yourself.” A friend summed him up perfectly, “Jeff was always unapologetically himself at all times.” So few of us can say the same about ourselves.
Jeff was recovering from foot surgery and looking forward to returning to work. No one could have imagined such a tragic ending at such a young age. Thankfully, he passed quietly in his sleep. Jeff is survived by his wife Michelle and precious son Lucas, as well as his father, Gene (and Sandy) and brother Andy (and JoAnna). Jeff was preceded in death by his dear mom Debra in 2014, and his beloved grandmother Jane in 2017. A Celebration of Life memorial is planned for spring (TBA). Michelle and Lucas will celebrate him privately, when the time comes, by spreading his ashes in a few of his favorite places, with the remainder laid to rest next to his Mom and Grandma where he would want to be.
What’s your fondest memory of Jeffery?
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Share a story where Jeffery's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jeffery you’ll never forget.
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