This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MarthannKohlFuhs Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.iowa.counties.harrison/4296/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Rev. S. Duane Bruce ©The Dunlap Reporter April 19, 2007 S. (Selwyn) Duane Bruce was born on June 7, 1920. Duane died at home on April 16, 2007. His parents were J.M. and Minnie Bruce. He was the youngest of nine children. His childhood was spent in Loraine, Texas where the family was engaged in dry-land cotton farming. Duane attended McMurry University in Abilene, Texas graduating in 1941. He also spent three years in seminary at Perkins School of Theology, SMU in Dallas, Texas. At SMU he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1944. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from McMurry University in 1967. Duane married Gladys Bruce on June 6, 1943. They were the proud parents of two children: Danny D. Bruce and Sharamine Bruce Wise. Duane and Gladys were married for sixty-four years and ten months. Duane was a United Methodist minister for forty-three active years. For his entire ministry he was a clergy member of The Northwest Texas Annual Conference. He served the following churches: Westover, Texas; First UMC/Lubbock, Texas (associate minister); Denver City, Texas; White Deer, Texas; Hamlin, Texas; Phillips, Texas; and Perryton, Texas. He spent three years as a District Superintendent serving either the Childress District or the Seymour District. For three years he was the Council Director in the Conference Office for the Northwest Texas Conference. His last thirteen years of active ministry he was the Executive Director of the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and resided in Oklahoma City for most of that ministry until the office was moved to Dallas, Texas. He retired from being the Executive Director in 1985 while living in Mesquite, Texas. Following official retirement he worked for seven years as the part-time chaplain at Timberlaw! n Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas, Texas. For a short period of time he also volunteered as the chaplain for a cancer treatment center in the Dallas area. Duane was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings and his daughter, Sharamine. Duane's childhood was spent in an agriculture environment in West Texas. Three family tragedies greatly influenced his call to ministry. As a young adolescent his older brother, Norris, died suddenly. Two years later his Mother died and right after that the family home burned down. Witnessing the outpouring of compassion and love from the local Christian community inspired Duane to accept God's call to be a minister. Duane's adult life was consumed with being a minister. He loved being a minister. He was known for his pastoral care skills in ministering to the needs of the members of his congregation. He was extremely proud to be a United Methodist. He is known in the United Methodist circles of both the Northwest Texas Conference and throughout the South Central Jurisdiction as "Mr. Methodism." Both family and church members were touched by his gentle spirit and ability to convey God's love in the times of need. He has an uncanny ability in his preaching to proclaim t! he Good News of the Bible and address the personal and social needs of his congregations. Because of his experience as Executive Director of the Jurisdiction he has many minister friends and colleagues from all of the conferences in the South Central Jurisdiction. Duane was a family man. He loved his wife, Gladys and was extremely devoted to her. He was a compassionate father to his children and a true mentor to his own son who is a United Methodist minister. As his family he is truly missed but he has left a wonderful legacy of compassion and love for all of us. His surviving family members are as follows: Wife, Gladys of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Son, Dan and wife, Nancy of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Three surviving grand-daughters: Daena Lee and husband, Chris of Austin, Texas. Carrie Esch and husband, Tim of Mesquite, Texas. Amie Pennington and husband, Patrick, of Heath, Texas. Duane has three great-grand children: Noah and Cannon of Heath, Texas, and Haley of Mesquite, Texas. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.