Bruce Harold Morace

Bruce Harold Morace (77) passed away on February 23, 2018, surrounded by family, and consumed by cancer that spread all too quickly. Bruce truly loved his family, both biological and any friend of Bill W., and served as a great role model of giving, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and sharing.
He was born in New Orleans, but grew up in California, where he ran track in high school and was proud of running in the Los Angeles Invitational in the Los Angeles Coliseum. While in California, he married his first wife, Bonnie Tehan, in 1963 and they had four kids. They eventually moved to Oregon, Grants Pass and then Salem, and were divorced in 1984. In 1989, he married Vicki Curry and the family grew to include her 6 kids. Bruce worked as a machinist in the shipyards from 1959 to 1993 and continued to use his building talents as a residential contractor after he retired.
Bruce is known for always being there, wherever he was needed, and we're sure that will continue as he lives on in our hearts and memories. He believed in paying it forward and never met a stranger. In Bruce's memory and to help us all to accept this loss, let us all remember the words that were so important to him: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.
Bruce is survived by wife Vicki Morace; children Belinda (Dave) Fair, Brian (Suzanne) Morace, Bernice (Dean) Breitbach, and Brent (Jennifer) Morace; stepchildren Bill (Katzi) Herrin, Rick (Nancy) Herrin, Mark (Amy), Sharmon (Stephan) Wright, and Marietta (Steffen) Larsen; sisters Linda (Gary) Moore and Susie (Leo) Stott; and all their families, including 17 grandkids and 7 great-grandkids. He was preceded in death by brothers Jimmy Morace and Bobby Morace and stepson George Cook.
There will be a memorial service to honor Bruce on Friday, March 2, at 2 pm, at Saint Timothy's Episcopal Church at 3295 Ladd Ave NE, Salem. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to SOS Club, 1797 Center St. NE, Salem. Assisting the family is Keizer Funeral Chapel.