Bruce Williams

I fought Polycystic Kidney Disease for 16 years and bladder cancer finished me off.

I received renal dialysis for eleven years. During that time I received a transplant that lasted 4 months.

I graduated from South Salem High School and Willamette University. I co-lead a group of political science students attending class in Costa Rica for one term. The faculty advisor, Dr. Ted Shay made the educational adventure memorable. We met with heads of state from every Central American country. My senior internship as a legislative aid was with Governor Bob Straub’s office. After that I knew politics was not in my future. Many years later I ran for mayor of Monmouth, OR and was soundly clobbered. At ten years old my first job was cleaning golf clubs for Ercel Kay. He was the founder of Salem Golf Club and told stories that were quite entertaining for my young ears. In Jr. High I threw papers for The Oregon Statesman. While in college I held various restaurant positions. One summer I worked McClaren School for boys. While there I built a golf course around the athletic fields and offered golf lessons with equipment donated by Woodburn Sr. Estates Golf Club. I loved that position. I was honorably discharged from the National Guard in 1985. After attending one year of graduate school I was hired by Hammerback and Associates, which merged into A.G. Edwards. Later I joined Shearson Lehman Bros. I earned a pilot’s license and an instrument rating in 1994 and flew my small airplane until my health went south. I coached basketball and softball teams in Monmouth. I was medically retired from Smith Barney in 1998 with end stage renal disease. After moving to Salem I sponsored youth teams through the Boys and Girl’s club. I am survived by Holly, my wife of 26 years, my mother, Jean Williams, sons Nick, Rocky and Scott and daughter Robyn. I was a lucky dog to have 2 grand-daughters, Madison and Drew. Please direct all donations to the Boys and Girl’s Club. No services will be held.