BRUCE WYMAN

Longtime La Conner and Skagit Valley resident Bruce Edward Wyman died at age 66, surrounded by family and visited by friends on Monday, January 25.

Bruce was born to Keith and Maxine Wyman on May 13, 1949 in Port Angeles, Washington. Two older brothers, Keith and Geoff, preceded him.

The family of five moved from Port Angeles to La Conner in the summer of 1954. While Maxine worked as a registered nurse, her husband supported the family by seasons of gillnetting in Bristol Bay.

Bruce attended La Conner Grade School and, after graduating from La Conner High School in 1967, married Gayle Martin. In July 1968, they were blessed by the birth of their daughter, Amy.

Like his father before him, Bruce became a jack-of-all-trades. He developed his skills as a carpenter and a kinship shared with local artists. However, it was the ‘60s, and his marriage would not endure. Taking stock of himself, he began to spend several seasons working as a deckhand on fishing boats and tenders in Bristol Bay.

During this time, he moved into a little shack on Sullivan’s Slough. Often Amy would stay with him there, preserving lasting memories of the water and the mud and the celebration of friends.

In 1977, he met Connie Cannon and established a life together on Sullivan’s Slough. Bruce and Connie were married in August 1979 and, gradually acknowledging an interest in refrigeration, Bruce began attending classes at Bellingham Technical College while Connie studied nursing at Skagit Valley College.

Upon completing their education in 1983, Bruce and Connie sought opportunities in Petersburg, Alaska. While Connie worked as a registered nurse, Bruce committed himself to establishing his own company — Cold Sea Refrigeration. In the years to follow, Bruce would earn the respect of the Alaskan fishing community, confirming his skill and willingness to troubleshoot for his customers.

In April of 1985, their first son, Walt, was born. Four months later, they moved to Seattle. In March 1988, their son, Luke, was born. Gradually, Bruce, always curious about science and technology, began to revive an interest in aviation and, in 1990, was awarded his pilot’s license. After years of hard work and sales, Cold Sea Refrigeration was turning a profit, and Bruce celebrated with the purchase of his first Cessna. Years later, as his interest in motorcycles revived; he bought his first BMW and participated in several of the Iron Butt rides throughout North America.

With money in his pocket, he became a patron of the arts. Bruce Wyman had the soul of an artist. His enduring friendship with Billy Slater and his generous support of artists in the Skagit Valley helped maintain a vigorous artistic community. And if you were ever invited to Bruce’s home for dinner, you discovered that the handsome guy busy in the kitchen not only played good music, but was a gourmet chef as well.

Bruce is survived by his first wife Gayle and her daughter, Amy; by his second wife Connie and her sons Luke and Walt and Walt’s wife, Ning. He also leaves his brother Keith Wyman, his wife, Cathie and their family; and his brother Geoff Wyman, his wife, Mary, and their family.

Bruce will always be remembered as a generous and beloved father, brother, uncle and friend.

Bruce’s family wishes to express their gratitude for months of tender care by the staff of Memory Care at the Creekside Continuing Care Community and, in the final weeks, the added quality of life and family support provided by Hospice of the Northwest.

A celebration of Bruce’s life is being planned to take place in May, honoring his day of birth and a life of love.