Raymond Bruce Tuttle 8/28/1948-10/24/2023
Bruce’s family and friends, or anyone that met him, would describe him as patient, kind, gentle, generous, brilliant, humble, and a welcoming man filled with love and joy. Bruce lived a very full, exciting, and complex life enjoying skiing, martial arts, photography, singing with musical groups including Boise Master Chorale, archery, hiking, shooting, reading, enjoying adventures with his three grandchildren, having meals and cookouts with his family and vacationing with his wife.
Bruce was born August 28th, 1948, in Houston Texas to Ralph and Neysa Howerton Tuttle. In 1950 Bruce’s parents relocated the family to New Plymouth, Idaho, to be closer to the family. By the age of 5 Bruce worked with his grandfather, Raymond, in The Tuttle Blacksmith/Welding Shop. In 1953 his parents moved the family to Boise, Idaho where Bruce attended Garfield Elementary, South Jr High, and Borah High School, graduating in 1966.
During high school Bruce, at 17, worked as a camera man at Channel 7. After saving his own money from working full time, he moved on to attend Boise State College graduating with a degree in Chemistry in1970. The only chemistry degree earned that year. He then attended the University of Idaho for a year of graduate studies before enlisting in the United States Navy.
While in the Navy, Bruce received training as a Nuclear Power Plant Operator. After having the highest test scores out of three classes of trainees that year, being selected to stay on at INEL as an instructor. He served in that position for three years, being released back to the fleet, assigned to the USS Kamehameha, a Nuclear missile submarine stationed in Groton Connecticut. Bruce’s term of service to our country lasted eight years.
After the Navy, Bruce went to work as a private sector contractor in the Nuclear Power industry with his last project in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. During this time, he participated in creating, designing, and building simulators for power plants all over the country. Bruce eventually returned to Boise, Idaho after closing out his career in the Nuclear Power industry.
Bruce was involved and had an ongoing interest in computers and all coding languages. He studied, learned, and then formed a new computer consulting business, Tuttle Datasmith. He named his business after his grandfather Raymond’s business, the man who first taught him the value of hard work and professional integrity in his Blacksmith Shop where he observed steel being formed into meaningful and useful items, just as he was forming programing to be useful and meaningful. Bruce gained clients and grew his business by adding the State of Idaho Department of Water Resources to his client list.
Upon returning to Boise, Bruce attended a men’s Bibie study group led by Pastor David Roper, where he heard for the first time God’s plan for Salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and Lord. He also attended Cole Community Church where God’s Word revealed how to follow Jesus daily. Bruce answered an ad on the church bulletin board one day to help with yard Spring cleaning for a single mom and his life changed forever. This is how the Lord led Bruce to meet the love of his life, Cassaundra, known by all as Tona.
Bruce and Tona were married on March 13, 1995, in Boise Idaho by Pastor Pat Blewett.
In 1998 Bruce accepted a full-time position as a Relational Database Computer Programmer for The Department of Water Resources and worked under that title for 14 years before retiring.
Upon retiring Bruce received a commendation for his service to Idaho from Governor Butch Otter. Bruce’s retirement years were rich and full as he cared for various family members and served in Cole Community Church Library. He was an avid and consistent student of Scripture and had a deep hunger and thirst for God’s Word. Bruce was always delighted to share God’s love with others.
Bruce passed peacefully on October 24,2023 with family attending. He is survived by his wife Cassaundra Tuttle, daughter Melinda and Jeff Redmond, his son Lucas and Lacie Miller and three grandchildren. He is very loved and deeply missed by his family. He loved his family well as God’s man of God.
“Blessed is the man that trust in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” Jeremiah 17:7
The following quote inspired Bruce in his personal walk with the Lord.
“Following Jesus, it’s a subtle quality of life that’s difficult to quantify but can be described as beautiful.”
“The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10 sum up the beauty. Those who are indwelt by and dependent on the Spirit of Jesus are humble and self-effacing. They are deeply touched by the suffering of others. They are gentle and kind. They long for goodness in themselves and in others. They are merciful to those who struggle and fail. They are single minded in their love for Jesus. They are peaceful and leave behind a legacy of peace. They are kind to those who misuse them, returning good for evil. They are blessed, a word that means “happy” in the deepest sense. This kind of life attracts the attention of others and belongs to those who come to Jesus and ask Him for it.” David Roper
His personal life verse, Micah 6:8 helped him align his heart with God.
He has told you, 0 man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Cole Community Church on November 15, 2023, at 2 pm, 8775 W Ustick Road, Boise Idaho 83704 Phone #- 208-375-3565
Committal will be held at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise Idaho at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.