Dennis A. Bright

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Dennis A. Bright. Dennis lived life well. He enjoyed his youth in Idaho and made Utah his home with Kaye Daniels (his wife of 62 years). Dennis is the proud father of Michelle, Jaren and Eric (Cicely) and is adoringly known as Papa to his grandchildren Lindsay (Ian), Kailey (Cody), Caden, Kai, Keegan, Cooper, and Sylvie and seven great-grandchildren Dax, Jonah, Tess, Crew, Evie, Laynee, and Daisy. His love for family was deep and abiding. Dennis was preceded in death by his son Jaren, parents Bud and Eddie, a sister Kim and brothers Barry and Darris.

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Dennis grew up in the small town of Teton, Idaho living an idyllic life with his brothers Barry and Darris, his mother Eddie ("Dede") and his father Charles ("Bud").

His body nourished by a diet of sourdough pancakes (made from an ol' family start), homemade chokecherry syrup (fruit picked from the bush), chicken n' nifflies (from scratch), and fresh rhubarb pie (rhubarb straight from the garden). His work ethic nourished by the examples of Dede working in the garden and Bud cutting hair as the town barber on Main Street. His soul nourished by time at the ballfields with the fellas, swimming in the canal, riding horses in the pasture, jumping off of the St. Anthony bridge into the Snake, swimming the Channel, and hanging out in the "wise old owl clubhouse" he and his friends made out of the rickety ol' granary at the back of the pasture.

Dennis and his brothers were inseparable. While he and his twin, Darris, didn't look much alike physically, Dede ensured they looked exactly alike stylistically in the matching outfits she hand made for them – had they not moved out of the house they may have dressed the same well into their adult lives. They stalwartly watched over each other. Like the time Darris ran along the bank of the canal yelling "don't cry Denny, don't cry" as Dennis struggled to stay above water. Or that day in Sunday School when the teacher was whacking a chatty Darris on the head while asking him "how do you like that? how do you like that?" prompting Dennis to respond by rolling up his own paper and whacking the teacher asking "how do YOU like that?"

As 17 year olds, Dennis first met Kaye Daniels when she and some friends traveled from their home in Ashton, Idaho to the little “big” city of St. Anthony. As Kaye and her friends "cruised the main drag" around the town park Dennis hustled up to the car full of ladies and introduced himself to Kaye, not knowing then she would one day become his wife and partner for the rest of his life.

During their courtship, Dad would drive the 20 miles from Teton to Ashton, pick up Kaye and head back to St. Anthony to catch a show at the drive-in, “cut a rug” at a tri-stake dance, or head "up country" to Island Park. Often, after returning Kaye to Ashton, Dennis would pull over and sleep on the side of Highway 20 when he was too tired to make it back to Teton. (Dede didn't love that so much.)

Dennis and Kaye brought three children into the world, Michelle, Jaren, and Eric. Jaren lived only two weeks with a malformed heart, but he was as important to them as Michelle and Eric (who between the two of them caused most of the gray hairs on their heads). It seemed Dennis never missed a game or event his children were participating in. Often stalking the sidelines with a mouth stuffed full of sunflower seeds while hollering and heckling with the rest of the parents in the peanut gallery.

Dennis's attention to detail was renowned. From his pegboard tool walls with every square inch filled like a Tetris board of hammers, rakes, carpenter squares, pruners, screwdrivers and I can tell you he was one of the finest people I have ever met. shovels to his always shiny cars with slick black tires to his yard adorned with perfectly manicured shrubs, three-inch high edges around the lawn, and lush flower gardens – the latter earning him the nickname "Mr. Miyagi" amongst his kids' friends.

Dad worked a number of jobs over the years with the Forest Service job in Island Park and his role as an account executive with Johns Manville being the bookend highlights of a successful career. His ethic and character was attested to recently by a former colleague who said "I can tell you [Dennis] was one of the finest people I have ever met."

In 2010, Dennis left his office desk behind and ran headlong through retirement right into his most cherished role as Papa. His seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren were the greatest joy of his life. When he wasn't traveling hours to support them at soccer matches, dance recitals, baseball games, mountain bike races, or birthday parties he was digging trails for them in the mountainside behind his and Kaye's home with landmarks along the path named for each and every one of them.

He was active right up until his last few months playing soccer with his grand kids, helping remodel his daughter's house, tenderly and insightfully reaching out to those of his family he felt needed help, and hauling bark up the aforementioned trail to get it ready for the grandkid’s summer visits.

He was the last of the Teton Brights, a cherished colleague, friend, brother, son, uncle, husband, Dad, and Papa. We will miss him every day, but we'll also be grateful every day for the indelible mark he has left on our lives.

He really was one of the finest people we have ever met.

If you have a memory or photo of Dennis the family would greatly appreciate you adding a memory to the timeline or signing the guestbook using the links below.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.