Obituary for James Tevya Washburn (4 Jul 1981 - 12 May 2020)

James Tevya Washburn passed away on May 12, 2020, dying unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism that led to cardiac arrest at age 38. He is dearly missed by his wife, Jill, and their four children: Colter (10), Ellie (8), Lorelai (4), and Ezra (1).

Tevya was born on July 4, 1981. He earned a degree in history from BYU-Idaho, where he met his lovely wife, Jill Miller, and they were married for time and all eternity on December 29, 2007, in the Boise Temple. Professionally, he built a successful online business. In 2019, he became a “digital nomad,” taking his family on an unforgettable adventure across MesoAmerica for nearly a year. His most important calling in life was to be a husband and father.

The public viewing will be held on May 21, 6:00 - 8:00pm, at the Zeyer Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be held on May 22, 1:00pm, at the Melba Cemetery.

Tevya’s friends created a campaign for loved ones to show their support for his wife and family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-honor-tevya-washburn.

Extended Version (678 words)

James Tevya Washburn passed away on May 12, 2020, dying unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism that led to cardiac arrest at age 38. He is dearly missed by his wife, Jill, and their four children.

Tevya was born on July 4, 1981, the son of Jim and Sonya Washburn. He was named after a character from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. He became the oldest of eight children and was the best of big brothers. In so many aspects of life, he led the way for his younger siblings. He was an avid reader from a young age, with a penchant for historical works. When Tev was in his pre-teens, his dad brought home an old work computer, and that began a fascination with technology that would continue throughout his life. He also grew into a movie aficionado and loved Star Wars and Indiana Jones, which endeared him to Spielberg and Lucas. That later led to him becoming an amateur filmmaker and media expert.

He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Long Beach Mission from 2000 to 2002 and there made lasting friendships. After returning home, he resumed his college career at BYU-Idaho where he earned a degree in History and further developed his deep love for past cultures and events. As a religious scholar and devotee, Tev published heartfelt essays on SacredSymbolic.com and shared these insights with friends and loved ones.

It was at school in Rexburg, Idaho, that he met his lovely wife, Jill Miller, through a family home evening group. After a few months of courtship, they were married for time and all eternity on December 29, 2007, in the Boise Idaho Temple. During their wonderful years together, they moved numerous times between Utah, Idaho, and Washington, and shared in a variety of outdoor and overseas adventures. They also prioritized their relationships with their immediate and extended family, making lasting memories with all of them.

Professionally, Tev built several successful online businesses, including one called wpXPRESS where he created, maintained, and serviced websites for clients across the globe. In his youth, he had struggled with social anxiety and preferred to avoid the public spotlight, but his profession pushed him out of his comfort zone, and he became a poised, graceful guest on podcasts and other forums. Through this online community, he earned the respect and admiration of his partners, employees, and clients.

Tev’s most important calling in life was to be a husband and father. Together, he and Jill raised a family of four: Colter (10), Ellie (8), Lorelai (4), and Ezra (1). In 2019, he became a “digital nomad,” taking his family on an unforgettable adventure across MesoAmerica for nearly a year. Jill said this of the experience:

“I am in awe of the tender mercy it has been to spend our last year together travelling the world with our little family and creating so many beautiful memories. It was a growing experience for all of us, but over the past few months I was keenly aware of the growth I witnessed in Tevya. He came alive as we were finally living our dream, exploring ancient places, and living the essentialist lifestyle that he had worked so hard for so long to afford us. My love for my best friend deepened as we took teamwork to a whole new level. He was thoughtful and calm, strong and tender, generous, funny, dependable, and smart. He is a fantastic father who had a special relationship with each of his children and loved teaching them the gospel.”

The void left by his passing has been deeply felt by the many people his life touched, and the legacy he left behind will be lasting.

The public viewing will be held on May 21, 6:00 - 8:00pm, at the Zeyer Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be held on May 22, 1:00pm, at the Melba Cemetery.

Tevya’s friends created a campaign for loved ones to show their support for his wife and family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-honor-tevya-washburn.