Bruce Lee Celmer was born Feb. 4, 1960 in Tacoma. He died April 25, 2008 at Banner Good Samaritan hospital, Phoenix, Ariz., from cancer.

Bruce was raised in many states as his father was in the military. He spent most of his teen years in Oak Harbor, graduating from Oak Harbor High School. He was active in the school ROTC program and joined the Navy after graduation. He spent six years on active duty, serving both stateside and overseas.

After getting out of the Navy he lived in Virginia for several years. He moved to Cottonwood, Ariz., in 1997 and made it his home. He was an active member of the Cottonwood Assembly of God Church.

Bruce is survived by his parents Ron and Fay Celmer of Camp Verde, Ariz., and Oak Harbor; sister Debbie Patterson of Ferndale; brothers Steven and Jim Celmer of Watugua and Fort Worth, Texas; maternal grandmother Irene Martin of Yakima; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He loved to work on and restore old cars. He has his own business in Cottonwood for several years. Bruce never met a person he didn’t like; he was loved and will be missed by many.

A memorial service was held April 30 at Cottonwood Assembly of God Church.