Maurice Bernard Bruce, 86, of Staunton but formerly of Butler died on Friday, May 20, 2016, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at the Litchfield Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of The Latter-Day Saints on Wednesday, May 25, at 11 a.m. Brother Wade Horrocks will conduct the service, and burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Litchfield. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield; they are directing the services.
Mr. Bruce was born on Nov. 9, 1929, in Honey Pointe Township (Montgomery County) to Robert Stanley and Berenice (Bitter) Bruce. A 1947 graduate of Litchfield High, he served in the Air Force during the Korean War, working on jet planes in Alaska. He also farmed and formed Bruce Builders, which specialized in carpentry and construction work.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Litchfield Ward, he served as an ordinance worker in the St. Louis, MO, Temple.
He and Lauretta Ann Sawyer were married on Feb. 27, 1960, in Litchfield; she preceded him in death on Dec. 3, 2003. He then married Elizabeth "Liz" (Hill) Reger on July 18, 2009, at the LDS Temple in St. Louis; she survives.
Also surviving are eight children, K. Scott (Shari) Bruce of Idaho Falls, ID, Bea Bruce of Shawnee, KS, Todd Bruce (Carl) of Phoenix, AZ, Lon E. (Tracy) Bruce of Hillsboro; Lisa Bruce (Tony) Lash of Meridian, ID; Craig Bruce (Michael) of Mishawaka, IN, Stephanie Bruce (Ron) Sloop of Shawnee, KS, and Neil (Diane) Bruce of Manhattan, KS; four stepchildren, William M. (Mary) Reger of Champaign, Joseph Reger of Desloge, MO, Christine McMullin of Salt Lake City, UT, and Susan Cumberland of Staunton; 17 grandchildren; 12 stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; one brother, Dale (Linda) Bruce of Virden; one sister-in-law, LaVonne Gertrude (John) Bruce; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; brother John Bruce; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Grace Bruce; sister and brother-in-law Jennie Leigh Bruce and Albert Paul "A.P." Crawford; and grandson Joshua Maurice Sloop.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund (make checks payable to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Perpetual Education Fund), 629 Chase Street, Hillsboro, IL, 62049.
For more information, to light a virtual candle or to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com.
