Bruce Barrett

March 12, 1935 to June 10, 2020

Bruce Eugene Barrett, age 85, passed away June 10, 2020 at his home at Edgewood Downs Independent Living while on Hospice Care. He was diagnosed with Atypical Parkinson’s Disease by several neurologists.

Bruce was born at home in Portland to Marie Peyer and Gene (W.E.) Barrett. He joined older sister Arlene Barrett Venner. Bruce attended Woodstock Elementary, Franklin High School, and Portland State College where he graduated with a BS in social work. He served in the U.S. Army in Butzbach, Germany. In 1962 he married Susan Dahl. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in April. Bruce worked at the Washington County Juvenile Department in Hillsboro as a counselor and often took the boys on fishing trips and to the beach. He later had a painting business (B & R) for homes and small businesses. He built a home in Tigard, a beach cabin in Rockaway Beach, and a retirement house in Garden Home.

Bruce played high school basketball and was an avid sports fan. He loved supporting OSU and Blazer teams. As a kid, he and his cousin Marvin rode bikes all over Portland and attended Beaver baseball games at Vaughn Street Park. John Tarnasky is the only surviving member of his grade school and high school buddies.

Bruce was an honest and loving man. He faithfully attended his daughters’ and grandkids’ sports and dance events. He made the best banana and apple pancakes, and a very special family popcorn! His favorite getaways were to the family cabins on the Clackamas River and at the beach. Fishing was a passion (trout, salmon and steelhead in area rivers, bass in the Pacific surf).

Bruce is survived by his wife, Sue; daughters, Lynn Holter (husband Scott) and Amy Christianson (husband Scott); and grandchildren, Katarina Hedgepeth (fiance Lawrence Carr), Jessie Holter, Jamie Holter (fiance Tyler Cach), Sierra Christianson, Rebecca Christianson and Cooper Christianson.

A Celebration Party will be held when safe, and his ashes will be scattered in the headwaters of the Clackamas and in the Pacific as he wished. His family misses him more than words can say.