Lemuel Lessie Bruce

Lemuel L. Bruce was born to the late W. H. and Ellna Raynor-Bruce on August 23, 1938. Lemuel Bruce was the twelfth born of his fourteen brothers and sisters, eight girls and five boys. He leaves to mourn with hope, a brother, Harrison L. (Lillie) Bruce of Jacksonville, AR and a sister, Daisy (Henry) Gibson of Chicago, IL. He is preceded in the passing of his other siblings, Henry Bruce, Oreee Bradford, Hazel Watson, Esau and Jacon (twins) Bruce, Carlene Cobb, Jeff Bruce, Willie Catherine Redd, Ruby and Ruth (twins) Bruce and Gloria Thigpen.

Lemuel attended the Pulaski County Training School and graduated in 1957, upon completion he moved to Wichita, KS. He met Ms. Lillie Ruth Turner and on December 30, they married and that faithful bond lasted 59 years until his transformation.

On November 8, 1961, Lemuel was drafted into the United States Army and he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for his basic training in San Antonio, TX. After completion he went to the school of Radiology Technology and was transferred to Oklahoma for his on the job training in dental and radiology. Sergeant Bruce did tours in San Antonio, TX, Petiluma and Santa Rosa, CA, Fort Knox, KY, Terre Haute, IN, two tours in Germany, and Fitzsimmons Medical Center, CO where he was an Xray Specialist in charge of the department. His final assignment was at Fort Riley, KS where after an illustrious 23-year military career he retired on August 29, 1985, as a infantry Medical Sergeant 1st Class.

After his military retirement the family settled in Aurora, CO. The United States Postal Service employed him as a letter carrier. Lemuel was a very active, jolly but serious man, he enjoyed spending time with his wife and children, bowling, playing racquetball, fishing, gardening and he was also a scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts of America and he was active in his church.

He suffered a life threatening trauma in 1989. With God's grace, prayers, the unwavering love of Lillie, his children and family, he lived. He was a strong man of faith and integrity with a determination to live life and take care of his family to the fullest.

He is survived by his wife, Lillie Ruth Bruce. His three children, Dishon Bruce-Moore (Antioch, CA), Les bruce (Chicago, IL) and Larry Bruce (Aurora, CO). He has three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

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