WILMINGTON — Faye Bauer left this earth peacefully on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
She is preceded in death by her late husband, Samuel Paul Bauer.
She is survived by her daughter Rebecca Jernigan, son-in-law Keith Jernigan, grandsons Wyatt and Owen Jernigan, son Brian Bauer, daughter-in-law Penny Bauer, grandson Forrest Bauer and granddaughter Callie Bauer.
Faye Rebecca Sipe was born December 14, 1940, daughter and only child to Clifford and Ruth Sipe in Shelby, Ohio. She spent her childhood in Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School in 1958. Faye worked in a local factory before attending Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. At the factory, Faye met Samuel Paul Bauer of Mansfield, Ohio who attended and graduated BW as well.
Sam and Faye eloped during their senior year of college on October 24, 1961 and were married at the First United Methodist Church in Fredonia, NY, honeymooning at Niagara Falls. Faye graduated in the spring of 1962 with a degree in Elementary Education. She began teaching second grade after graduation and helped support Sam in his pursuit of a graduate degree in Social Work. Faye taught for seven years before the arrival of their first child, Becky, in July of 1968. Faye then enjoyed her role as a stay-at-home Mom for many years until Brian (born November 1975) attended elementary school.
Faye and Sam began their family in suburban Cleveland, Ohio and then moved the family to Rockville, Maryland in 1979, where Becky and Brian both attended and graduated high school. Wanting to stay busy, Faye was an ever-present volunteer at school events, chaperoning and serving on committees and PTA boards. She also acted as an independent saleswoman for Avon cosmetics and Becky recalls helping her deliver orders. She connected with her children through common interests of figure skating and football. Faye was a lifelong fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes and always cheered for her hometown NFL teams, the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers. Faye also embraced her creative side and enjoyed some ceramic and macrame classes. She enjoyed sewing and was always available to help mend or alter any clothes through the years that Becky and Brian would send her way for some TLC.
Faye returned to employment in the early 1980’s, putting her accounting skills to work which were strengthened by the years she served on PTA boards for the children’s schools. Faye also worked in Accounts Receivable for a small computer company in Maryland. She remained employed there until she and Sam relocated to Wilmington, NC in 1995. Faye cheerfully helped Sam when his health began to fail and he required dialysis. She was always loving and supportive and never complained. Sam and Faye made the best team and helped show us what true love is. They moved to Wilmington in 1995 to follow their children ‘down South’.
Faye and Sam had been married just shy of 38 years when she was widowed in January 1999. After Sam’s passing, Faye re-ignited her love of ice-skating and travel and would take trips to see numerous ice-skating competitions including at least one World Championship. In one of her trips for ice-skating competitions, she took a trip to southern California to visit her cousin and took in the Rose Parade. She loved the beautiful creations of flowers and living vegetation, and it was brought together in celebration of one of her other loves in football. A few years after being widowed, Faye built a new house in the Westport community in Leland, NC where she enjoyed making décor selections, furnishing the home, landscaping and enjoying her quiet cul-de-sac with three large palm trees in her backyard. She loved all the beauty and light.
During many summers, she would enjoy water aerobics classes at the community pool to stay active. She served on a committee there helping to arrange meals for grieving families in the neighborhood and anyone needing a little note of encouragement. Faye also took advantage of various musical performances and regularly attended the North Carolina Symphony. Additionally, she took an interest in politics and served as a voting volunteer.
Faye remained close with her dear childhood friend from Shelby, and then a few sorority sisters from Baldwin Wallace and would take girls trips with them. Faye loved to drive and would take annual trips to Ohio to catch up with friends and extended family, thinking nothing of driving some 9 hours. As the years went on, she began to split up the drive stopping off at Brian’s in the greater Charlotte, NC area to shave off such a long drive. Truth be told, it was so she could get in some quality snuggle time with her grandson Forrest.
Faye was a wonderful grandmother to Wyatt (25) and Owen (22) Jernigan and later to Forrest (10) and Callie Bauer (4). She was always a comforting presence and would help in any capacity she could. Always supportive and encouraging, never directing how we should manage our own lives. She enjoyed all holidays and would always mark them with some fun treats the grandchildren would enjoy. She spent numerous days with both families around the holidays, particularly when the children were small. As the grandchildren grew up, she could often be found cheering them on at one of their many youth sports games. She relished her role as grandmother, beaming with pride at all their many accomplishments and was always quick to share pictures of them.
Faye was so cheerful and caring yet underneath she had such a strong fortitude shaped in part by her upbringing as an only child and then as a widow at age 57. Faye was so very loving and supportive and was the best listener. She would serve as a sounding board but never ever overreach, instead choosing to always let us know she was there for support and let us come to our own decisions. Faye was unconditional love personified.
Her son-in law Keith Jernigan had a special relationship with her as his second Mom. As Faye began to age and was not tip top in her technical skills, Keith served as her personal IT support. She would contact him to help get her TV settings restored, or use his app to order pizza she would pick up so she could take advantage of the discount.
Faye was a very independent, strong, graceful and loving lady. She had a quiet confidence and was never afraid to tackle anything thrown her way. She loved a challenge and had such a can-do and often stubborn attitude that she passed down to her children. Even in her final days, she loved to demonstrate her strength and squeezed our hands very hard.
In her later years, Faye’s biggest interests were coloring, reading her People magazine and newspaper. When dementia began creeping in more recently, coloring would calm her, and she could get lost in it.
In her final days, we feel blessed that she knew who we were and that we were there to help keep her safe and cared for when she moved to the Magnolia Assisted Living in March 2023 and then transitioned to Southwood Rehab and Nursing in late June after two bouts of pneumonia.
Faye Sipe Bauer was, and always will be remembered as a Hall of Fame mother and grandmother.
Burial will take place on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Mansfield Memorial Park in Ontario, Ohio laid to rest beside her husband.
