Bruce A. McLeod

Bruce A. McLeod passed away 4:25am on August 8, 2015 at Kadlec’s ER. Bruce was born to Duncan and Sally McLeod, Jr. of Palto Alto, CA on Easter Sunday, April 6 1947. Bruce and his older sister Janyne were raised in a close-knit family in Palo Alto, CA. He graduated Palo Alto High School in June 1965. Bruce went on to Willamette University in Salem, OR where he earned his BA in History. In November of 1969, Bruce married Jeanette Prather.

He entered the Navy in January of 1970 as a recruit and went through basic training at the  San Diego, CA Recruit Training Center. Upon graduating basic training, he was assigned to the Navy’s Aviation Wing where he received training as an Air Traffic Control Specialist at Naval Air Station (N.A.S.) Glyno, GA, which was his initial Class “A” School. Bruce then received his first active duty assignment to N.A.S.  Adak, AK. This duty station is considered a “hardship” assignment and wives and families are not allowed to accompany the service member. Adak is one of the Aleutian Island chain in the Bering Sea. It is known as the “The Rock” (frozen land of the wind, ice and earthquakes). Upon completion of that 13 month stay, he was sent back to N.A.S.  Glenco for further training as a Radar Approach Control Specialist; known as “GCA” (Ground Controlled Approach). After completing that training, he was assigned to “Accompanied” shore duty at N.A.S.  Moffett Field, CA in the San Francisco Bay area, just 10 miles south of Palto Alto. Bruce served at N.A.S. Moffett Field until May 1974, which was his completion of Active Duty.

After his Navy active service, Bruce, his wife Jeanette and newly born daughter, Jennifer, relocated to Tacoma, WA where he was employed with the Peoples Store (a retail company) in a management training program. Bruce earned his way up to the position of Store Chain Buyer of China, Silver and Giftware and in addition was the Department Head of those areas in addition to the Housewares and Small Appliances departments from July 1974 to November 1978. In July 1975, his second daughter, Deborah was born, making a happy family of four.

In April 1979 Bruce joined the O.M. Scott Co. of Marysville, OH as the Western WA Factory Sales Representative. In 1978, Bruce and Jeanette divorced in December of 1980, Bruce married Lou Vel Peaslee. They divorced in 1989.

Bruce enlisted in the Navy reserves as a Seabee in 1988 and received an Honorable discharge in 2001. His rank as discharge was BU2 (Builder, petty officer second class; pay grade of E-5). The rank that Bruce obtained when he was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy (active duty) was AC2 (Air Traffic Control; pay grade E-5). A total time of service was 17 years (active duty and reserves) 

Bruce became a licensed Insurance Agent with the Farmers Insurance Group Co. While a Farmers agent, he met and fell in love with Susan Hansen whom he married in June 1990.

Bruce and Susan relocated to Ocean Shores, WA in 1993. Both Bruce and Susan became members and were very active in BPOE (Elks) Lodge #2581 in Ocean Shores. Bruce served as “Exalted Ruler” of BPOE #2581. Bruce and Susan were married until Susan’s death in April 2003.

In June 2003 Bruce met Nancy (Livingston) Goering and was married at sunset on Kee’s Beach at the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii on October 19, 2003.

Bruce relocated to the area where Nancy lived in West Richland, WA. Bruce retained the residence at Ocean Shores as a beach retreat house throughout his life.

Bruce is survived by his wife Nancy; and the following children and grandchildren: daughter, Jennifer and husband Andy and their children, Gregory and Christian and impending arrival of a new granddaughter; daughter, Deborah and husband David and their children, daughters, Christina and Samantha, and sons Dakota and Macienzie; son, Richard and wife Collette and their children, Shannon and Scott; daughter, Shauna and her children, Kallen and Keara. Bruce is also survived by his sister, Janyne and husband Darrell and their daughters; Sarah and husband Brian and their children Brooke and Cole; daughter, Becky; and daughter, Amy and husband Bucko.

Celebrating of life will be held on, Saturday, August 15, 2015. Public viewing will start at 4:00pm and go until 5:00p.m at Einan's at Sunset Funeral Home. The funeral will start at 6:00pm at Events at Sunset,  with full Military Honors to follow at the graveside at Sunset Gardens. A reception will be held after the graveside at the Events at Sunset (all locations will be at 915 ByPass Hwy, Richland).

Please send any remembrances to:

BPOE #2581 Ocean Shores, OR; or VFW Post #7952 Richland, WA