August 12, 2020
August 12, 2020
Our good friend Bruce Estus passed on the morning of February 25, 2020. He had enjoyed good health most of his life and was grateful for it. The last few years he did have congestive heart failure and complications from diabetes, and ultimately, kidney failure.
There is so much to tell about him and his life. He had a life of many adventures and had the best stories. Some of his favorites were about living in Seldovia, Alaska - before it was even a state; sailing from Seattle to Seldovia in the summers on his family's fishing boat, the Westward; growing up in the Magnolia area of Seattle; living in California; working at Capital Chevrolet; all of the cars he has owned; any road trip; and the fun things he and his children did when they were small; Pam, Peggy, Pauline and Bill.
Bruce was one of those people who had 1,000 friends. Whenever we were out in public old friends would approach him who hadn't seen him in years. They were always so happy to see him.
Bruce would help anyone if he could, and often did. But many times, he warned me not to tell anyone he was a former auto mechanic, because he didn't want to be roped into fixing their car for free. But that was after he had already helped many people with just that, for 30 years or so.
Bruce was the best cook and grill master. He was self taught and watched many cooking shows to learn the secrets. He could make a meal out of anything and he told me of some of the "creative" dishes he fed to his children.
He loved the outdoors and spend a lot of time camping, when he was younger, and fishing and boating. He had his own small fishing boat for awhile and would rent one, when he didn't.
He was just talented and a quick study on anything new. He was proud of his long career at the Washington State Department of Ecology, where he maintained the website for Air Quality and created the best PowerPoint shows. He was lucky enough to retire in December 2009. Then he built a lot of model fishing boats, houses, and cars. I was amazed each time I saw a finished one.
Forgive the endless photos of dogs and cars. They were two of his favorite things in life. I counted 12 vehicles in just the time I knew him; and 5 dogs, 5 cats and a parakeet.
I wish he had never left us but I am torn, as I know he was in physical pain. I still can't believe he is gone, but I am slowly enjoying getting out more old photos and telling people all I know about this wonderful man in the 23 years that I was close to him. --Zoe Estus, Tumwater, WA
There is so much to tell about him and his life. He had a life of many adventures and had the best stories. Some of his favorites were about living in Seldovia, Alaska - before it was even a state; sailing from Seattle to Seldovia in the summers on his family's fishing boat, the Westward; growing up in the Magnolia area of Seattle; living in California; working at Capital Chevrolet; all of the cars he has owned; any road trip; and the fun things he and his children did when they were small; Pam, Peggy, Pauline and Bill.
Bruce was one of those people who had 1,000 friends. Whenever we were out in public old friends would approach him who hadn't seen him in years. They were always so happy to see him.
Bruce would help anyone if he could, and often did. But many times, he warned me not to tell anyone he was a former auto mechanic, because he didn't want to be roped into fixing their car for free. But that was after he had already helped many people with just that, for 30 years or so.
Bruce was the best cook and grill master. He was self taught and watched many cooking shows to learn the secrets. He could make a meal out of anything and he told me of some of the "creative" dishes he fed to his children.
He loved the outdoors and spend a lot of time camping, when he was younger, and fishing and boating. He had his own small fishing boat for awhile and would rent one, when he didn't.
He was just talented and a quick study on anything new. He was proud of his long career at the Washington State Department of Ecology, where he maintained the website for Air Quality and created the best PowerPoint shows. He was lucky enough to retire in December 2009. Then he built a lot of model fishing boats, houses, and cars. I was amazed each time I saw a finished one.
Forgive the endless photos of dogs and cars. They were two of his favorite things in life. I counted 12 vehicles in just the time I knew him; and 5 dogs, 5 cats and a parakeet.
I wish he had never left us but I am torn, as I know he was in physical pain. I still can't believe he is gone, but I am slowly enjoying getting out more old photos and telling people all I know about this wonderful man in the 23 years that I was close to him. --Zoe Estus, Tumwater, WA
