It is with profound sadness that the Bruce family share the passing of beloved husband, father, grandad, brother, and uncle, James Gaiennie Bruce, who left us on November 27, 2024 at the age of 62. He was a man of immense humor, kindness, wisdom, and love, cherishing every moment spent with his loved ones.
Jim, as he is known to his friends and family, was born in Dallas, Texas. He was the fourth out of five children of Cecil and Ellen Bruce. When he was 14, his father accepted a job in Minnesota, and the family moved across the country. Shortly after, he met his future wife, Devonne Dahlberg, in middle school.
After his high school graduation, he went back to Texas to attend Texas Tech to study business. However, his heart was not in it, and he wanted to pursue a career in broadcasting. He moved back to Minnesota and received a certification in broadcasting from Brown Institute.
His first gig as a disc jockey was in Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he worked overnights. However, longing to be back in warmer weather, he got his second gig in El Dorado, Arkansas. It was here that he proposed to Devonne. They got married in Shreveport on Valentine's Day in 1987, where his parents had retired, and they lived in Arkansas for nine months.
He was offered a position in Meridian, Mississippi, where his two children, Courtney and Cameron, were born in 1988 and 1991.
After three years in Meridian, Devonne was offered a job in Jackson. The family lived there for another three years. There, Jim made his career change into the medical field and became a surgical technician.
After looking at some different options, the family decided to relocate back to Jim's hometown in Dallas. They lived in Garland for 26 years in one apartment and two different homes. Jim worked at several different hospitals, including Mesquite Community Hospital, Forest Park Medical Center, and he retired from Parkland Hospital after having extensive spinal fusion surgery to correct his scoliosis.
Jim and Devonne then had a home built in Anna, Texas, to be between their children and grandchildren in Denison and Mesquite.
In July 2023, Jim was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He fought gallantly.
He was a man of many passions, especially music, movies, and art. During his time as a disc jockey, he met several celebrities and enjoyed many concerts. Jim and Devonne's favorite band was the Rolling Stones, and they saw them every opportunity they got during his life. He dazzled his children and then his grandchildren with his spectacular magic tricks and puppet shows. He was a collector of old toys, Universal Monster movie memorabilia, marionettes, ventriloquist dummies, and 3D movies.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and survived by his wife of 37 wonderful years, Devonne Jean (Dahlberg) Bruce, his siblings, Robert Bruce, Dorothy (Bruce) Cole, William Bruce, David Bruce, his two children, and five grandchildren, Benicio Anselmo Bruce, Evelyn Lucille Bruce, Sienna Melody Cayabyab, Sage Lilian Cayabyab, and Jack James Bruce.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 5, 2024 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 652 Redbud Boulevard, McKinney, Texas 75069. Following the service, a procession will make its way to Ridgeview Memorial Park, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013 for a committal service.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. Rosary to begin at 6:00 p.m.