Mr. Bruce W. Demarest

Bruce Willard Demarest, 84, of 160 YMCA Rd., Becket, MA, passed away on November 30, 2016. Born in Wolcott, NY, Nov. 6, 1932, he was the son of William Hayes Demarest and Doris Estella Caster. After graduating in 1950 from Leavenworth Central School, Wolcott, NY, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955, as an air traffic control radar maintenance technician and became staff sergeant. He had a strong love of country and was proud to speak of his great grandfather, William Merrit Demarest, who served in the Civil War. Bruce was a genealogy buff. Bruce attended college in Syracuse, NY and Santa Maria, CA. In July of 1955 he began his 38 year career with General Electric Company, beginning in the Syracuse, NY Heavy Military Electronics Dept., as an electronics technician. During 1958 to 1965 he worked as a field service representative and also at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. From there he worked at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the Apollo Support Program, as a field service electronics technician. In 1967 he came to Pittsfield, MA until he retired in 1993, working at GE Ordnance Systems, in Technical Publications and Training, which produced U.S. Navy technical training manuals for Poseidon and Trident missile fire control systems. Bruce was a talented piano player and could sit down and play many old songs and hymns from memory, which he loved to do, and people loved to listen. In addition, he played the clarinet from his high school days and enjoyed his harmonicas, guitar, accordion, and he had a nice singing voice. As a member of the First Congregational Church of Becket, Bruce had shared his musical talents with the choir and on other occasions in years gone by. Throughout the years Bruce loved traveling the country, exploring back roads, coast to coast, visiting family, camping, with a special love for California and the west. He loved his home in Becket dearly, which he lived in for nearly 40 years. His appreciation for art and movies made him willing, when asked, to allow it to be used in a feature film, and as the central location in a series of art photographs by Gregory Crewdson, after Bruce had himself been a model in one of Crewdson's iconic pictures, commonly known as "The Father." Bruce is survived by his wife, Darlene. He is also survived by two daughters from a former marriage to Raella Kimball; Amy Austin and her husband, Paul, Louisville, Co., and Karen Wilhoite, Alameda, CA. He is also survived by six stepchildren; Juliane Hiam, Pittsfield, MA, Beth Hiam, Williamstown, MA, Teresa Hiam, Lexington Park, MD., Stephanie Mayer, San Jose, CA, Peter Hiam, Maple Valley, WA, Matthew Hiam and his wife Noriko, Redmond, WA. He leaves his beloved grandchildren; Emily Austin, Kevin Austin, Harper Glantz, Jack Glantz, Isaac Scribner, David Scribner, Elijah Acheson, Sarena Acheson, Mio Hiam, Blaine Sumosky, Joshua Sumosky and his wife Amanda and great grandchild, Jude Sumosky. He also leaves dear nieces and nephews. He is survived by a sister, Lorraine Dobbin, Lyons, NY. He was predeceased by his parents, and a sister, Carol Demarest. The family wishes to thank all those who cared for Bruce in these last days, including Berkshire Medical Center; the loving staff at Craneville Place of Dalton and to Dr. Robert B. Lee for his care throughout many years. FUNERAL NOTICE- Funeral services for Bruce W. Demarest will be held Wednesday. December 7 at 11AM at the First Congregational Church in Becket, with Rev. Kevin C. Smail, pastor officiating. Burial will follow in the Becket Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 3-6PM at the BARTLETT WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME in Dalton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bruce's memory to Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter or First Congregational Church of Becket in care of the funeral home 525 Main St., Dalton, MA 01226. Please visit www.wellingtonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences to his family.

Mr. Bruce W. Demarest

November 6, 1932 - November 30, 2016