Gene Arthur Bauman

December 31, 1947- October 23, 2023

Gene A. Bauman, 75, of Everett, Washington, peacefully passed away from COPD and Emphysema on Monday October 23, 2023, surrounded by his wife and two daughters. He was born on December 31, 1947, in Pocatello, Idaho to the late Arthur E. Bauman and the late Virgina (Kvarfordt) Bauman.

Gene grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, attending Saint Anthony Catholic School 1st-8th grades and graduating from Pocatello High School. The summer after graduation he met his wife to be Patricia “Trish” Bartlett, they were married after he returned home on leave from Naval boot camp. He proudly served his country as an Aviation Electricians' Mate in the United States Navy from 1967-1973. In Vietnam, he was part of the helicopter maintenance crew for the Helicopter Search and Rescue HC-7 Big Mothers squadron. HC-7 was the only squadron in the US Navy history to focus solely on search and rescue. He received many awards and citations for his tours of duty and was honorably discharged as a Naval Petty Officer Second Class at Imperial Beach, California.

Gene was the oldest of four boys. He grew up helping his father with the cabinet shop where he learned to do finish carpentry and later worked at the Overhead Door of Pocatello garage door business. After his tour of duty in the Navy, he attended Idaho State University studying business and worked alongside his father and brother Greg with the Overhead Door of Pocatello. In 1987 he moved his family to Everett, Washington and worked several years for Cressey Door of Seattle before starting his own garage door business, Engineered Door Systems, he retired in 2013.

Gene was known for his wit and dry humor; he also liked to debate politics and watch Fox News. He loved the outdoors and was an avid camper, backpacker, fly fisherman, sail boater, and skier-both downhill and cross country. He also was an accomplished woodworker and electrician using the skills he learned from his father and the Navy and had perfected over the years. He was good at remodeling each of their houses. He helped his daughter Elisabeth make a wooden coffee table for her senior project in High School. His last woodworking project was a large wooden flag which he designed and built with the help of his daughter Emily, for his son-in-law Travis Meyer, upon retiring from the United States Navy after 22 years. It has slotted shelves on the stripes of the flag to hold all of Travis’s military coins.

Gene was very proud of his family and loved them dearly. He leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years and his three children; his son Preston Bauman (Crystal Cox), grandson, Austin and granddaughter Dakota; his daughter Elisabeth Bauman Bayard, granddaughters Annabella and Jessica; his daughter Emily Bauman Meyer (Travis Meyer); his brother Greg Bauman (Sharon Bailey), niece Jennifer, nephews Philip and Blake; sister-in-law Kathleen Bartlett France (Tim France), nephews Theodore and Benjamin; sister-in-law Laura Bartlett Bradway (Jeff Bradway), nephews Daniel and Matthew; and many aunts, uncles and cousins all over the country. He was preceded in death by his nephew Eric Bauman, and his two brothers Karl and Cary Bauman.

Gene’s Military Committal Service with Military Honors will be held at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery Boise, Idaho, at 2:00 pm on August 2, 2024.

Gene’s family has requested that any donations be made to help produce the documentary about the HC-7 squadron called “No Warrior Left Behind-The Untold Story of HC-7.” There is info about this project at www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/hc-7-seadevils-the-movie. Checks can be made out to the Naval Helicopter Association Historical Society, put a note on the check that it is for HC-7 movie. PayPal has been turned off.

All donations are tax deductible. Send the checks to:

Naval Helicopter Historical Society

c/o Naval Helicopter Association

PO Box 180578

Coronado, CA 921178-0578

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-FH.com for the Bauman family.

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TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the hills, from the lake, from the skies.

All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, may the soldier

or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, must thou go,

when the day, and the night need thee so?

All is well. Speedeth all To their rest.

Fades the light;

And afar Goeth day,

And the stars Shineth bright,

Fare thee well;

Day has gone, night is on.

Thanks and praise, for our days,

'Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky,

As we go, this we know, God is nigh.