Lowell Layne "Bucko" Bodily

When asked if he was raised in a barn, Lowell could truthfully answer yes—as a teenager, he chose a bedroom on the end of the barn on the family farm in Burley, Idaho. Born on Christmas Day in 1937, he was the youngest of nine children born to John Henry and Edna Perkins Bodily.

Born with clubbed feet, Lowell spent much of his early childhood at Shriners Hospital, enduring surgeries far from his family. Those years conditioned him to have an extraordinary resilience that would carry him through every challenge life sent his way.

After graduating from Burley High School, Lowell attended Ricks College where he met Patricia Meyers. Their first date was to a movie, during which Pat later discovered he had carried a hidden empty pistol all evening. Why? As he would say, “I got no Idee.” They married in 1959.

Lowell earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Utah State University. In 1964, Lowell and Pat and their three young boys (Lynn, Kent, and Kevin) moved from Logan and Lowell began work at the Salt Lake County Health Department. Their daughter, Tiffani, was later born in Bountiful. Lowell would dedicate 53 years to public health, retiring in 2017. His colleagues became lifelong friends, and the health department created the annual "Get'er Done" award in his honor—capturing the essence of who he was: someone who simply showed up and did what needed doing.

It was his teenage sons who nicknamed him "Bucko”—borrowed from the TV show Happy Days—and it stuck forever.

Bucko enjoyed playing church ball, served as a Boy Scout leader (guiding every single boy to earn their Eagle), and spent many years happily serving as ward librarian. He was known for his quiet, dependable service—the kind of person you could always count on. He was a man of faith.

He also volunteered to cover phones at the Salt Lake City Fire Department where his friend served as fire chief. Bucko also proudly served as a CPR instructor for the Red Cross.

A curious and lifelong learner, Bucko was fascinated by science and history. He loved documentaries that fed that curiosity, but most loved watching classic cartoons—particularly Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, whose endless optimism in the face of repeated failure may have resonated with his own spirit.

Throughout his life, he had many hobbies, but golf was a passion. Not just playing, but also making clubs. What started as deer hunting trips with his sons eventually became an annual golf weekend—still dubbed the "deer hunt"—with his son Kevin, grandsons Chaz, Brayden, Brock, and Sam, and son-in-law Ryan. Even in his final months, when health challenges mounted, his goal remained the same: get back on the golf course.

He faced each obstacle with characteristic determination and that same resilience he'd shown since childhood.

Bucko loved people deeply, but he also loved his dogs—perhaps not quite realizing they weren't people too. Each one, he was convinced, was the smartest dog that ever lived.

But nothing brought him more joy than his grandchildren. "I'm rich in life because my grandkids like me and show interest in me,” he would say. He didn't just love his 16 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren—he genuinely liked them, and they knew it. Texts from Bucko were truly something special. “Okie dokie artichokeeeeeee”

Having survived the loss of his two sons, bypass surgery, and countless health challenges, we thought he just might outlive us all. The hole he leaves in our hearts is immense.

Bucko quietly changed the world by loving the people around him. He showed up. He served. He made everyone feel like they mattered.

He is survived by his wife Pat; his children Lynn (Lori) and Tiffani (Ryan); grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and countless friends and family members whose lives he touched.

He was preceded in death by his sons Kent (Sheri) and Kevin (Jilane), his parents, and all eight of his siblings.

The family thanks all the doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff for their kind and compassionate care over this past year.

Viewing: Thursday, February 12th, 2026, 6–8 PM at Russon Mortuary, 295 N Main Street, Bountiful, UT.

Funeral Service: Friday, February 13th, 2026, 11 AM at the Orchard 1st Ward Building, 3707 S 800 W, Bountiful, UT. Viewing prior to service: 9:30–10:30 AM at the church.

Graveside services to follow at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, UT.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live-stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.