Gene Gisley, longtime editor of the Bremerton Sun (now Kitsap Sun), died May 11 at his niece’s home in the Boston area.

Mr. Gisley was born in 1923 to Ole and Sybil Gisley in Hinsdale, Mont. He was a graduate of Hinsdale High School and the University of Montana. He attended graduate school at the University of Washington and was awarded a professional journalism fellowship at Stanford University.

He began his newspaper career while still in high school by working as a printer for a local Montana paper. He worked a succession of jobs as a printer before being hired by the Sun as a reporter in 1956, and later became the editorial page editor for the Star Free Press in Ventura, Calif. He returned to Bremerton as the Sun editor in 1969 and remained as editor for the next 20 years.

Following his retirement in 1989, Mr. Gisley pursued his passion for golf, travel, politics and reading. He spent much of each year traveling in his motor home.

Friends and colleagues are invited to attend a celebration of life in Mr. Gisley’s honor. The tribute is 4-6 p.m. June 4, at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club, 3885 NW Golf Club Hill Road, Bremerton.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the American Cancer Society, 1551 Broadway, Suite 200, Tacoma, WA 98402, is suggested.