Bruce Douglas Brown, 58, a resident of the Shelter Bay Community near La Conner passed away at his home on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

Bruce was born on January 25, 1960 in Albany, New York, the son of Lawrence & Margaret Edgerton Brown.  He was raised and attended school in Valley Forge, PA and then Appleton, WI.

Upon graduating from high school Bruce attended the University of Washington where he attained a Bachelor of Science Degree, was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and had aspirations of being a technical writer.  Immediately following his graduation from UW, Bruce went to work as an American Observer on Japanese fishing trawlers working in remote areas including the Bering Sea; out on the water for months at a time.  He then worked for Puget Power and following that, for the Skagit River System Cooperation as a fisheries and marine biologist.  He was involved in the forecasting of the salmon run sizes, monitoring harvests, conducting test fisheries, and disease prevention for the Skagit Coho and Chinook salmon. He was integral in the digitizing of the data accumulated on the salmon in the Skagit Valley.  As part of his work, he met with local land owners to obtain access to test sites in the La Conner and surrounding communities.

Bruce was an avid reader, science fiction being his favorite escape.  He enjoyed experimenting with new vegetables and herbs in the raised gardens that he designed and built around his home with his longtime companion, Monica Peters.  Above all, he enjoyed being on the water on his prized Bayliner with Monica and their Golden Retriever.

He loved spending time at his family’s vacation home in Waupaca, Wisconsin where he could walk the trout streams and enjoy the quiet and relaxation of the streams.  He was always adamant about stocking up on authentic Wisconsin cheese from local factories to take home for his family, friends and colleagues.

Bruce is survived by Monica, siblings, Sally Brown of Laurel, MD, Peggy Brown of Cleveland Heights, OH, Georgia Brown and husband Martin Pennoni of New Albany, OH and Larry Brown and wife Kathy of Appleton, WI; two nephews, Chris (Emily) and Derek, two nieces, Taylor and Greta and He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Life Celebration service will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley.  Memorials in his honor of Bruce are suggested to the Cancer Care Center at Skagit Valley Hospital.  Share memories of Bruce and sign the online guest register.