Brian Kent Bateman

Brian Kent Bateman, son of Kent Greer, and Sharon Naylor Bateman, died at the tender age of 27.  He was married to Cheryl Grondahl. They had three sons, with a child, a daughter, on the way at the time of his death, June 19, 1992.  He died of an aortic aneurysm that burst.  This was a eulogy delivered at his funeral.  Written and given by Diana B. Parker in June of 1992.

BRIAN KENT BATEMAN

a short history

1964

Brian was an interesting study.  He was born; it seems like, knowing who Brian Kent Bateman was and where he was going.  He had strong opinions and could impart them to his family whenever they seemed to be veering from his chosen path.  He would become downright disgusted if you just couldn't see his "big picture"!

Once when his grandma started telling him to pick up some of his things and put them away, he put his hands on his hips and looked into her face and said, "I knew you were going to say that, I just knew it!"  He was raised on the farm and learned to work with his dad.  And he could work.  Once my father-in-law (Keith Parker) told me he'd just as soon work with Brian on the canal as anybody.  He could really carry his share of the load.  He was so much like his father, Kent.  They worked so hard and loved to hunt and roam the hills together.  Kent gave Brian big shoes to fill, and he filled them.  Sharon gave Brian his love of sports, and, be it known, his ability.  Like most young people, he couldn't wait to get away on his own.  He wasn't gone very long, because he loved his mom and dad and loved to be with them.

Brian loved to play in the little league.  Every year he made the all-star team.  But he was quiet about it, never boasting or making a big deal of himself.  It was just fun for him.  Since he didn't boast to much, we will.  Grandma Bateman went to a ball game to watch him play.  He was a little older then and probably in the pony league.  It was the last inning.  The batter hit a line drive just behind first.  Brian caught it for the 1st out, but the runner on first left the base without tagging and so Brian stepped on first for the 2nd out.  By this time the runner on third had started for home and Brian threw him out at home for the third out.  Grandma Bateman who loves baseball, stood up and shouted for all to hear, that was her grandson, Brian.

In his teen years, his Indian foster brother, Virgil, came to live with his family.  Brian willingly shared his room, his parents' attention and his life, with Virgil.

Brian loved to build his body and show it off, just a little.  He lifted weights and at a Christmas Eve talent show we coaxed him to pose and flex.  His funny shy smile, and then we knew he liked it!

At 16 while preparing for a wrestling competition, he took a physical.  It was at this time that the complete coarchtation or closure of the aorta was found.  The doctor was frantic that the problem be corrected immediately.  On Christmas day of 1981 he opened his presents and entered the hospital for surgery.  By summer, he was back in the field catching flies and batting up a storm.  There was no hint of the recent trauma except the scar, which ran from his breast bone around to the mid back.  He got used to that scar, but he was never very excited about it ruining that perfect chest!  Later, however, he did like to make use of it by showing the scar and telling the children that he had been bitten by a shark!

Brian graduated from West Jordan High School.  He was the Senior Class president of the first graduating class.  However, he did mention recently that no one had told him that being president would mean that he had to organize the class reunions for the next bezillion years.  While a senior, he was voted the best looking man!

Brian attended Snow College on a leadership scholarship.  While there he was elected to the student senate and was instrumental in forming a popular group on campus called the CAVALIERS.  His photograph still hangs on campus in recognition of this.

When Brian was 18, the Church put a program together using Priests to serve on splits with the full time missionaries.  Brian served for 2 weeks in the Utah South mission.  He was very proud of the tremendous work he and his companion did and of the numerous baptisms that they scheduled.  His family was proud of the glowing reports that came back to them of his great personality and power for good.

Brian loved his parents, his brothers and sisters and the rest of the more extended family.  Oh, how he could tease and torment Alison, Brent and Heath, but when Andrea and Kirt came along later, he was the big brother all the way.  We watched often at family gatherings as he would play with them and the other small ones in the family, picking them up and cuddling them and playing "baby" games.  As they got older though, he loved the competitiveness of being together.  In baseball and basketball and golf, he wanted to do his best and he wanted others around him to also, so he could truly test his metal against them.

Just weeks ago he noticed, for the first time?, that Andrea was not a little girl any more and he told his mom that she needed to be  talked to, guided, because she was pretty and grown up, and he  didn't want anything to happen to her.  Some one had better tell her about the birds and the bees, he didn't want his little sister stung.

He treated his grandparents with a special love and respect.  Always on holidays, he made the special effort to come to them and give a piece of himself and Cheryl and the kids.  He would sit in the chair with that special smile that peaked higher on one corner than the other and talk and laugh and share his love.  He and Cheryl lived above Grandma and Grandpa Bateman for the first while, and he would do special little things for them and just show up to take care of their spa.  Grandma Naylor was often the recipient of kind deeds and caring ways.  Just recently he obtained and installed for her a pantry that she had been wanting.

Once Brian made up his mind, no one changed it, seldom even him.  He made up his mind about Cheryl when they attended a youth conference at Utah State University in 1980, between their sophomore and Junior Years.  They were not in the same stake, but both stakes had chosen to go there that year.  The two stakes decided to combine for a dance on a beautiful summer evening under the starry skies.  Cheryl was not shy and decided to look around at all of these new guys.  When she saw Brian standing all the way across the patio, she knew, even though she couldn't see him very well, that he was the boy she wanted to dance with.  On the next girl’s choice, she asked him to dance.  Brian didn't talk much, and at the end of the dance he shyly said "Thanks, and Bye".  Usually Cheryl would have gone on, but this felt good enough to try again.   So she asked the disc jockey for another girl’s choice and tried again.  This time Kelly Atkinson walked past and off handedly remarked, "Ask her if she likes cows, Brian."  That was the magic word, for Cheryl had just recently written her famous and profound song entitled "Cows are people too!" and that was all the magic they needed to begin a relationship that will last throughout all eternity.  They were pretty young and some of us encouraged them to date around, but he loved her, and she him.  They stuck together through all the ups and downs preceding marriage.  He was so faithful to her from the very beginning.

Brian appeared to have a gruff exterior, which really didn't do a very good job of covering up a very tender interior.  This never showed more than with his sons.  Whether it was playing soccer on the back lawn or lying on the couch with one of them asleep on his chest his love of his children came through.  Even now it is so easy to hear him say, "Come here, Bud" and then pick them up in his arms and love them.  He was very excited to have a new child in the family.  He looked forward to this coming birth.  Maybe even now he is holding that spirit close and sharing moments with it before it comes to join our family on this earth.  What little corkers Justin, Kyle and Joshua can be when they want. Sharon said to Brian once, "I hope you have a son just like you!"  And he does, he has 3 sons just like him.  Brian loved to play with his sons and snuggle them and tease them and tell them what to do!  And when he did, they did!

Brian chose his friends carefully and well.  He admired those who were worthy of admiration.  If you were his friend, then you are a good person.  He was loyal to his friends, and cared about how they were doing and if they were happy.

Brian was a goal setter.  He loved the challenge.  Perhaps that is what made him such a good salesman.  And the people he dealt with liked him.  Sharon called him at his work recently, only to find he was out on the golf course.  His manager told her, that if the dealers from California wanted to come to Utah to do a little business and golf with Brian then that was OK.  Brian had begun his work career with Consolidated Freightways.  Then he took over a position selling spas.  He worked hard at this and recently he opened a new store in conjunction with partners.  His colleagues called him the "Spa King".  In addition to this he and Cheryl headed their own networking business where he acquired many new friends and was able to use his leadership skills.  He was devoted to helping other become successful.

Brian always fought hard, played hard and ran fast, stuffing many things into the last few years.  He loved life, met its challenges and continued walking toward the light.

He left this life, cuddled in the arms of his eternal companion.   With certain knowledge we know that he did not choose to leave us here.  He loved Cheryl and his sons, he had dreams and desires and goals.  We also know, that though he does not appear to live with us here, he does live and love still and care for his family and friends.