Words from Heath

What do you say about an Uncle who was also your best friend?
My Uncle Bruce did so much for my family and I. From the time I was little he included me in most of his family's activities and treated me as his 4th child. When I was older I moved to Charlotte. My Uncle and my Aunt Carol opened their home and their arms to me. While this was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me my Uncle gave me much more than even that. He married my Aunt Carol when they were both very young. My Aunt Carol is also one of my best friends. I have gone to her for advice many times and she has not one time turned me away. Together they gave me three cousins Amy, Dana, and Dan who are more like sisters and a brother to me.
When Michelle and I were married Uncle Bruce insisted we hold the reception at his home as always he rolled out the red carpet for us, our friends and family. Unk could "roll out the red carpet" better than anyone I ever knew. All of you know he didn't need an excuse to throw a party and no one loved to party like he did.
My Grandfather has been gone from us for a little over two years now. When he passed away it took a lot out of my Uncle but he made taking care of my Grandmother his personal mission till the day he died and he loved every minute of spending that time with Grandma. He was proud of the fact that he could do that for her and for us. Now my Cousins and I will try to fill his shoes and take care of Grandma and the rest of this family. Although I doubt we will be able to do as much as my Uncle did we will try to show you all of the love and attention he did.
My Uncle always put himself second and his family and friends first. He was truly an unselfish person and the definition of a gentleman.
Folks, Thursday August 12th will go down as one of the darkest days of my life. I feel really cheated because Uncle Bruce and I had a lot of unfinished business we never got to. We planned lots of fishing trips we never got to take. We planned to take my pontoon to the lake when we had time this summer. We didn't get to sneak up to the Ale House just one last time to shoot some stick and leave Aunt Carol and Michelle wondering why it takes 4 hours to run to Harris Teeter and then back to the house for dinner. Unk and I never did win that damn powerball money that we had such big plans for! (wait till laughter ends)
My Uncle had a lot to be proud of in his 34 year career with Sears but nothing made him more proud than his family.
Aunt Carol he was always so proud of you and so am I. Thank You for taking such great care of him throughout his life.
Grandma he was very proud of you and Papa. His parents meant the world to him as you well know.
Uncle Bruce was also very proud of my Father, his brother Jim. Unk was there with him when he graduated from Duquesne and Anesthesia school and often bragged about his accomplishments.
Amy and Mark, Dana and Domingo, Dan and Erika Uncle Bruce was always very proud of all of you and the beautiful grandchildren you gave him.
To my Daughter Ashley you know how very special you were to your Uncle Bruce. Always remember he used to say you were his great niece and you were a G-R-E-A-T niece!
Tyler I don't even have to tell you how special you were to Unk he watched you grow from a 5 year old little boy to a grown man. Uncle Bruce always bragged about what a polite well mannered young man you are.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone for being here today. If you are here then Bruce probably touched your life in some special way and each of you are special to him. While we will miss him he would not want us to be sad. He is in a better place with many of our other loved ones who left us before him.