Bryce Mice the carpenter's assistance.  Helping to build a building on the Farm!

Bryce had his original brain surgery at age 3.  After the surgery, his physic changed to a very Budha like body due to the steriods given to him prior to the surgery.  He was very cranky because the pressure in his head was building up.  His favorite Aunt Jackie came to visit him and entered the room with a very pleasant Hi Bryce, How are you today.  He looked at her with his one good eye (the other had a patch over it) and said "Why don't you go home and feed your cats!!!)  He was having nothing to do with nice, even for aunt Jackie!  It devistated her for days.  It was funny at a later date, but definately not funny then.

Years ago, I rented a tiny stone cottage, right on the beach at Southworth.  I wanted to share it with Bryce and Rigel, who were very little at the time.  They came over on the ferry with me for an overnight.  I used to keep 2 cars, one on each side of the water, and walk onto the boat.  We had stuff to carry, including child size life jackets for the boys, as they were going to go for a row with me.  Since I couldn't carry everything, I had the boys put their life jackets on.  A ferry worker came up to Bryce and asked him if he knew something about the boat that the workers didn't know!  They had hot coco on the ferry and we had a nice evening.  In the early morning, Bryce started crying, because someone was laughing outside.  It was a duck, going quack quack quack! He got right over it when we identified the source.t We took the boat out in the shallow water where they could see fish, and they played on the beach, looking for crabs.  What a nice time we had!

I have so many fond memories of growing up with Bryce. I was blessed to have had three extra brothers Rigel, Bryce and Matt.

Some of the best times that we had were camping trips to the Washington Coast and the Oregon Sand Dunes and sleepovers when the Jones’ both had to work nightshift. He loved that we had cats and he and I would try to carry them around on pillows or dress them in my clothes.

Bryce was always so thoughtful and kind to everyone, even those that were not the kindest to him. When I think of Bryce I always see him smiling back at me. I am so grateful to have had the time that I did with Bryce and regret not seeing him over the past 10+ years.

Rest in peace and know that you are loved.

In March or April of 2011, I got a call from Bryce (aka “the Meister”) while I was at work.  Meister wanted to know IF I was interested in going to see U2 with him?

 I was surprised by this question, as Who would NOT want to go see U2 in concert??   For the Meister to have to work his way down the list to me was astonishing!  Laughing… I’m not sure how many people he asked before me… but I didn’t have to think about it!  I said “Heck Yeah!!!!”

 It occurred to me later, I hadn’t asked what day, or even what city it was in!  Didn’t matter… I was gonna make it work. 

It turned out the concert was right in the middle of me retiring from one job, being basically ‘downsized’ from another, and accepting employment for work overseas in a new career.  A very busy and turbulent time in my life.

I had to fly to Seattle for the concert, and rented a car.   I picked up Bryce and we went to Red Robin in Northgate for dinner before the concert.  Fortunately I got a great photo of the Meister after dinner – and he’s got a BIG grin on his face!  WE ARE GOING to see U2!!

We drove to C-Link field, and I stumbled around trying to figure out where to park.  Not being familiar with Clink Field… I bungled and parked ‘not as close’ as I could have!  The Meister was a Trooper and did not complain one bit about the walk.  Actually more of ‘a hike!’   And he insisted on paying for the parking!

When we arrived in the stadium, Bryce expressed an interest in getting a concert T-shirt.  I looked at the lines, and talked him out of it.  I was concerned with getting Bryce seated and soon.  He was visibly tired.  I decided then and there to design him a suitable replacement concert T-shirt.

Little did I know that he was going to get a shot at mountain climbing when we entered the bleachers in the North 'End Zone!'  They were STEEP!  Women were going up the steps backwards and sitting on each step as they went up.  Not the Meister!  He marched right up them… shaming many more able bodied concert goers!  I was proud of him.

We got to the ‘bench’ versus seats… and were among the first to arrive.  It was good we were early - in that we avoided the crowd that way, and got to watch the stadium fill up.  Meister was sitting right on the end of the bench, next to the stairs, and passed the time by smiling and flirting with all the pretty girls coming up the stairs.  I could not have gotten away with that – but what guy was going to hassle the Meister for flirting with their girlfriend.  Bryce knew HE could get away with it – and he ‘worked it!’  He also chatted with many of the other folks around us.  The Meister was working the crowd and making friends.

Lenny Kravitz opened for U2 and rocked the show.  I can’t remember IF the Meister was familiar with LK, but he enjoyed the show.  Then U2 opened, and the crowd went nuts.  Even the Meister was up on his feet and stomping and clapping.  I was a wee bit nervous about Bryce’s stability – but he was alright.  And had a huge grin on his face.  He was lovin’ it… and it was an awesome show!  We both had a great time, and really enjoyed the show.

We stayed as late as I dared, and then informed Bryce that “I was tired, and needed to leave” – to which the Meister did not question or complain about leaving early.  I was concerned with trying to get Bryce out of those bleachers, in the dark, and in a huge crowd.  We resumed the second half of our long hike back to the rental car. 

On the way home, the Meister fought the fight (trying to stay awake).  He did pretty good, but was obviously exhausted.  When he did doze off, he had that signature grin!  Even in sleep!

Thanks to the Meister I got to see U2 live – and will always think of him, and our concert experience whenever I hear U2. 

Thank you for taking me to U2 Meister!  We love you, and will miss you buddy!

Bryce with Robert in a very messy room at Starbird Farm.  Please note headphones!  They were a regular fixture with Bryce, listening to music or Videos.

during one of his Bad Days with Sara Cat.

I haven’t seen Bryce in many years. Reading the words of his passing last night triggered an avalanche of memories of Bryce. With the perspective now of time, Bryce comes to mind as one of the strongest people I have ever known. I have had it so easy. He endured so much working to fit in socially while confronting his health issues. He was adored by many and he will be missed by all.

My memories of Bryce start at Margaret Mead Elementary School. As we moved through Junior High to High School, and I matured, my appreciation for Bryce grew. His challenges were no longer a source of teasing, but they were what made him so extraordinary, so different from those of us whose definition of adversity was in retrospect quite silly. As a daily task, Bryce stared adversity in the face and kicked it in its teeth.

By our senior year at Redmond High School, in 1994, Bryce assumed an informal role as a school mascot. He was featured during pep assemblies waving flags and firing up the student body during the football season. There was one skit where he broke tackles and scored a triumphant touchdown in slow motion to music. I am not surprised at all to see a recent photo with Bryce wearing Seahawks gear. He loved the game of football.

Bryce would play football during recess with us in elementary school. We did not cut anyone slack, we gave no quarter to the weak, but we let anyone who wanted to play out on the field. Bryce had all the heart to play the game, just not the athleticism. He did not play every day with us, but he would try. That was more than a lot of the kids did.

I recall a simple but special story with Bryce that took place almost twenty years ago to the day during our senior year. Of course, it involved football. He was in my “Team Sports” class. One week we played football on the main Redmond High School astro-turf field. I could tell Bryce was just excited to be out there on the turf where the High School team played. There weren’t many opportunities for the less athletic students to play sports once you get into High School. On this particular week, however, we were playing a pick-up game on the big boys’ field. I had an idea.

I wanted Bryce to score a touchdown. I didn’t want people to let him score. I didn’t want it to be fake. I wanted him to compete, like I saw him compete in recess years earlier. I wanted him to feel the thrill of competitive sports. He could do it.

Time was running short in class. We were near the goal-line. We were going to let Bryce go into "Beast-mode." The first and second plays didn’t work. We lined him up too far back from the line of scrimmage. He wasn’t fast enough to evade his pursuers. I looked at him. He was willing to keep trying.

That is sports and my determination grew. We were going to have to get physical. The teacher wasn’t going to like what happened next.

We huddled up. The team was co-ed and many people did not even know why a football had laces. Needless to say, there was no time to explain the fundamentals of goal-line football. I made it simple. I told everyone to line up tight to one another and ram into the people in front them to knock them backwards. Bryce would be right on the rear of the quarterback and the quarterback would hand him the ball. Bryce would score in the space we created in the center of the line.

I looked at Bryce in the huddle, “You got this?” I was trying to recall his exact words, but he was basically Oscar-worthy saying something to the effect of, “Give it to me.” A couple of us spoke and decided a few days of detention would be worth pulling this off if we got in trouble for pushing other people down in class.

Guys and girls were in a tight formation leaning toward unsuspecting defenders on the goal-line. Those of us who knew the game got into three-point stances to get leverage to block. The opposing players who knew football also prepared for contact. I tried to line up across from a couple people who posed a threat to get to Bryce (and who could defend themselves). The quarterback snapped the ball. I charged forward crashing into two players. I tried to toss them to the ground, we tangled, and fell into a heap on the ground. There was the sharp, familiar moment of aggression associated with contact sports.

People shouted as the sudden violence drew protest. People pushed against each other with people falling to the ground all around me. We had created a poor imitation of real football.

Rolling over on my side on the turf I could see Bryce with the ball. Like he thought he was on TV, he had his arms crossed over the ball like a classic fullback would. A couple of the opposing players lunged for him. They were too late. Bryce was textbook football fundamentals. He got low to the ground and half-dove extending the ball over the goal line.

I jumped up to start a celebration. The teacher was not happy. He announced the game was over and to hit the lockers. Instead of celebrating, Bryce handed someone else the ball and started to walk off the field. I bolted over and told him, “Good work. You scored a real touchdown. Bryce, Spike it!” (I actually used more colorful language, but I want to keep this clean.) Bryce smiled. He slammed the ball against the turf. We patted him on the back in congratulations as we walked back to the locker room.

This wasn’t a big deal, it wasn’t a real football game, but it was something that mattered to me and some of the others that day. We tried to give a moment to Bryce after he had given so much to all of us.

I don’t know how Bryce’s life has been in recent years but I hope he scored some more touchdowns along the way. He deserved them.

His kindness and devotion to his friends were extraordinary. Bryce left quite an impression on me and made me a better person.

I hope my old friend Bryce rests in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.

My Deepest Condolences,
James Windle 
  

When Bryce came to his group home after a two year stint in Harborview for his MoyaMoya disease, he was really in bad shape.  He was using a wheelchair for mobility, and was still having difficulties with temper.


After several months, he was out of the wheelchair, but still not walking well.  Because of that, he was assigned to do Chicken feeding.  At first they assigned him to gather eggs as well.  It was thought that the uneven ground would improve his balance.  Over time, it did, but the chicken feeding experiment was not as successful!


On this particular day, Bryce went out to feed the chickens and gather the eggs.  However, the door to the coop swung closed, with Bryce in the COOP!  Since he was short, and could not figure out the door lock, he spent "quality" time in the coop, screaming for help.  He was not hurt or in trouble, but did not volunteer to feed the chickens again!! That was the end of his affection for these birds!    

When Lorraine had her fabric at retreat, Rod and Bryce would come up to help out - Rod would cut fabric and Bryce was the delivery person.  He brought me a purchase, deilivered with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.  Bryce has written my name by himself and it touched my heart so that I saved it.  He wrote:B-e-c written backwards-y.   Becy.   So many sweet memories and so many laughs when Bryce and his dad joined forces to tease me and others.  Nothing but good memories.  God love my precious friend and bless his entire family.