After a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Bruce Edward Mesford passed from this world on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. He gave his nephew time to travel down from Vancouver, and then went quietly in his sleep. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Harvey and his sister Jeanne.

Bruce was born in Port Angeles, Washington in 1931 to Ivan and Olga Mesford. In his time, Bruce served in the Merchant Marine, then in the Korean War in the Army Security Agency, intercepting and translating enemy communications. After his Army service, he attended Pacific Lutheran College, where he met and fell in love with Mary Kathryn Kay Simonsen, whom he married in 1957 in Baker, Oregon.

Bruce and Kay spent a year in Tacoma before returning to Baker, where Bruce joined the police force and soon achieved the position of desk sergeant. While in Baker their sons Tim and Kent were born. In 1966, Bruce left the force to work for the Federal government doing background investigations on potential Federal employees. This job took him to Las Vegas, where son Kurt was born. In 1967 Bruce was transferred to Richland, Washington, where he and Kay brought their children Kristin and Gregg into the world. There they joined the Richland Lutheran Church, and have remained members ever since. In 1968 Bruce went to work for JC Penney's, and developed a large circle of repeat customers over several years.

In 1991 Bruce worked briefly with his friend Ralph Rider, and then went to work as a bus driver for Ben Franklin Transit; he retired from that position in 1996. Since then, he spent many wonderful hours volunteering with the Three Rivers Folklife Society, helping produce concerts and the annual Tumbleweed Festival, and organizing his beloved Second Saturday Sea Song Sing-alongs. Bruce is survived by his wife, his children, their spouses Chris Tim, Carol Kent and Dean Kristin, and grandchildren Steven, Benjamin, Jacob, Sabra and Kathryn, as well as nieces, nephews and friends who loved him dearly.

The last concert he produced for Three Rivers will be on Saturday, December 1, 2007, featuring his friend Hank Cramer and the Constellation's Crew. Following the concert will be an early Sea Song Sing-along with the Crew at Round Table Pizza in Richland. All are welcome to come and celebrate Bruce's life. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and the Tri-Cities Cancer Center.