Bruce was born August 24, 1943, in Yakima, Washington to Leslie and Rose Wherry. He lived in Cowiche and graduated from Highland High School in 1961.
He attended Washington State University and graduated in 1967. He received his pharmacist license the same year. After graduating, Bruce moved to Yakima and worked at Jordan’s Drugs. He married Maxine Hall in 1967 and they lived together in Yakima until Bruce was drafted into the Army in 1969. They lived in Ft. Ord, CA for two years, during which their daughter, Amber, was born.
In 1971 they returned to Yakima so Bruce could continue his pharmacy career at Potter’s Drugs and in 1974 their son, Craig, was born. Bruce went to work at Barton’s Pharmacy in 1980 and purchased the pharmacy from Bill Barton in 1990. He remained the independent owner of Barton’s Pharmacy until he sold it in 2000 to Greg Gibbons. After selling his pharmacy, Bruce remained involved with the local pharmaceutical community by filling in at various independent pharmacies throughout the Yakima valley as well as volunteering at the Yakima Valley Museum to archive and organize their pharmaceutical inventory.
Bruce was continually involved in pharmaceutical associations at local, state and national levels throughout his career. He was a member of the Yakima County Pharmacist Association, the National Community Pharmacist Association, the Washington State Pharmacy Association and, later, the Pharm Pac committee from 1991-1993 where he served as Chair in 1993. In 1995, he was recognized as Pharmacist of the Year through the Washington State Pharmacy Association.
In early 2013, Bruce was diagnosed with a rare, fatal brain disorder called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). There is no known cause of the disease at present and it typically leads to death within a few weeks to one year following the onset of symptoms. Bruce was supported by his family and best friends who cared for him at home until it became necessary to move him into Hospice care. He received excellent care at Cottage In The Meadow and passed away peacefully surrounded by love.
Bruce was preceded in death by his wife Maxine Wherry and his parents Leslie and Rose Wherry. He is survived by daughter Amber Wherry, her husband Eddie and their son Max of St. Louis MO; Craig Wherry and his wife Amy of Bellingham; brothers Nate Wherry of St. Petersburg, FL and Jeff Wherry of Manchester, NH; numerous nieces and nephews and most dear friends Bud and Robyn Ellis of Yakima.
In light of the rarity of this disease and Bruce’s commitment to the scientific community, the family encourages donations to be made to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation in lieu of flowers. 341 W. 38th Street, Suite 501 New York, NY 10018. cjdfoundation.org
Please join the family for a celebration of Bruce’s life on Saturday, March 16th from 1-5pm at the Yakima Valley Museum. 2105 Tieton Drive.
Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home has been entrusted with his arrangements. To share a memory of Bruce, please visit www.lmfuneralhome.com
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