Jamie Lynn Neumann

Jamie Lynn Neumann, born August 4th 1976, passed away Thursday evening, July 27th 2017, after an extended illness. She was 40 years old. Jamie suffered with significant lifelong medical issues, spending much of her life in constant physical pain; further complicating her delicate mortal fate. Though we find some relief in the fact that our girl is no longer suffering—there are no words to describe the aching in our souls her absence leaves behind.

Jamie Lynn, was born with spina bifida, which literally means "split spine" in Latin. This birth defect resulted in an incomplete closing of the surrounding membranes of her spinal cord, and many people born with spina bifida are often confined to wheelchairs their entire life. Thankfully, that wasn't the case for her; however, due to a multitude of resulting complications, primarily affecting her renal system, she wasn't expected to live a long life.

Despite a sobering prognosis, Jamie grew to be a beautiful, petite little pistol. Barely five feet tall, she was warm and energetic, quick-witted; a smart-mouthed, truth-telling, ass-kicking, rock-n-roller, who lived to be forty years old and died just one week before her 41st birthday.

Forty years on this earth gave Jamie plenty of time to be a chronic (even comedic) pain in many of our asses; not limited to at least a half-dozen retail establishments, as well as, medical centers and law enforcement agencies across Utah and Idaho. She was a handful, but she was ours, and the world seems less interesting without her in it.

Yes, she was stubborn and uncompromising but deeply loving and incredibly empathetic. Anyone who truly knew Jamie could tell you that she loved animals far more than humans, especially stray or abused dogs; and over the years, she adopted and cared for several that she met along the way. She loved her pit bull Rocco most of all, but our family dogs too: Dominic, KC Jones, Brutis, Izzy and Dio—and they of course worshipped her, following her from room to room.

Jamie was the kindest to those among us that live in the shadows; the homeless, the afflicted, people who've slipped through the cracks the way she often felt she had. She didn't worry about being politically correct, and was completely indifferent to the good opinion of others.

Years of suffering created in her, a unique and wicked sense of humor, and her words could reflect the deepest truths in the simplest of ways, and she was no less candid about herself and her own struggles. Despite her many tragedies, she loved to look sparkly, feminine and glamorous. She never got tired of watching Golden Girls re-runs and she always smelled of floral perfume and candy.

Jamie was the older of two sisters, whom she loved and teased mercilessly at every opportunity (Jennifer Neumann and Danielle Parmenter). She absolutely worshiped her mother (Cindy Neumann, who kept her strong and sassy all the days of her life) and her beloved father (Mark Neumann (loving step-mother, Jacque) who gifted her with one of his kidneys after the misery of dialysis, saving her life in 2001). She adored her two nephews and loved them like her own babies (Phenix and Archer Hall) and was looking forward to an amazing summer with them.

She was the oldest and the coolest of all the cousins and the most rebellious. She spent many summer afternoons getting into trouble at family barbeques, making us laugh soda out of our noses, and when the sun started to set, she'd snuggle onto a blanket with one of our dogs and her baby sisters, and drift off beneath the stars. If circumstances had been different, we believe Jamie would have been an amazing mother.

Jamie is survived by her Mother, Cindy Neumann; Father, Mark Neumann (Jacque); Sisters, Jennifer Neumann and Danielle Parmenter (Zach); Nephews, Phenix and Archer Hall; beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and some life-long family friends. She was preceded in death by her biological Father, Clifford Richardson; and Grandparents, Art and Carol Neumann and Ken and JoAnn Vanleeuwen.

An open house, celebrating Jamie's life, will take place at her mother's home, 550 C Pheasant Ridge Dr., Pocatello, ID 83202, between 4-8pm on Saturday, August 5th 2017. Flowers may be sent to the same address.

We are grateful to anyone who loved Jamie, helped care for her, rooted for her, slapped her upside the head when necessary, and forgave her anyway.

She will be forever missed, forever young, forever loved.

Memories and condolences may be shared with her family in the "Tribute Wall" tab above.