Bruce Groves, 

97, of Boise, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 at home surrounded by his 
family. Friends and family will gather Friday, October 30 from 2 p.m. 
to 4 p.m. at The Orchards at Fairview clubhouse, 1536 N. McKinney Lane 
to celebrate his life. Please join us in honoring his memory. Bruce 
was born April 15, 1912 at Orofino, Idaho, the son of Chester W. and 
Mary (Urquhart) Groves. His family moved to Winchester, Idaho where he 
completed high school in 1931. After studying three years of business, 
he graduated in 1937 with a degree in forestry from the University of 
Idaho, where he met his future wife, Frances Lewis. They married on 
Dec. 24, 1939 in Boise. Daughters Judith Ann (Hollis) and Carol Jean 
(Reagan) were born in 1941 and 1945. Bruce took great pride in being a 
forester. Colleagues have called Bruce a "forester's forester" and 
often referred to his consummate professionalism. His career with the 
U.S. Forest Service began on the Selway National Forest in 1929. Other 
early assignments were on the Clearwater, St. Joe, Coeur d'Alene, and 
Helena National Forests. As newlyweds, Bruce and Frances lived briefly 
in Panguitch, Utah then Salt Lake City, Utah and Evanston, Wyoming. 
After spending nine memorable years in McCall on the Payette National 
Forest, the Groves family finally settled in Boise in 1958. Bruce 
retired from the Forest Service in 1968, but continued working as a 
timber consultant for Hoff Lumber Company until 1978. For Bruce, 
retirement was only the beginning. He learned to ski at age 66, often 
spending five days a week on the mountain, and finally quit when he 
was 88. Bruce and Frances walked religiously with their dearest 
friends, the Happy Hoofers. He scoured the mountains in search of 
exotic fungi as a member of the Southern Idaho Mycological 
Association. The ultimate competitor and advocate for senior equality, 
Bruce took up race walking and ski racing at 74. For 23 years, every 
visitor to the Groves' home was treated to a viewing of his giant 
sailfish adorned with hundreds of ribbons and medals all won after his 
74th birthday. Among them were Idaho Senior Games gold medals, Robie 
Creek Run awards and his favorite skiing prize, "Best Crash!" At age 
90, he received the biggest trophy in the collection engraved "Oldest 
Male Participant." His competitive spirit, sense of humor, and gentle 
nature made him wonderful to be around-he never complained and was 
always game for anything. Although he was tough as nails, there was 
nothing more important to Bruce than family and friends. He adored 
Frances, his children, grandchildren and his great-grandson. After 
Frances' death in 2000, he was able to live at home thanks to the help 
of his daughters and a wonderful staff of caretakers from MultiCare 
(Barbara Streng, Lee Anderson, Judy "Diane" Wydick, Susan Scholer, and 
Elizabeth Christie). The family wishes to thank Dr. Clifford Tenley 
for his excellent care and years of friendship. Bruce is survived by 
daughter Judith Hollis of Oakland, California; daughter Carol Reagan 
and son-in-law Ron of Boise; grandson Scott Reagan and wife Michelle 
of McCall; grandson Michael Reagan, wife Shannon and great-grandson, 
Kellan, of Boise. He was preceded in death by his sister Beth, both 
parents and Frances, his wife of 60 years. Memorials may be sent to 
the charity of your choice or to the Shriners Hospital for Children in 
Salt Lake City.

Published in Idaho Statesman on October 28, 2009