Norman Philip Bruce

Memorial Services for Norman Philip Bruce, 51 of Mesa, Arizona formerly of Baxter, will be Sunday, May 22 at 2 P.M. at Bethany United Methodist Church, Nashville Hwy, Baxter, TN. Mr. Bruce died Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Hospice of the Valley-Friendship Village PCU in Tempe, Arizona. He was born August 25, 1959 in Warsaw, Indiana. He graduated from the Baptist Academy, an extenuation ministry of Villa Baptist Church of which he was a member. He was a star basketball player there as well as a mentor for some of the younger students. He loved all sports especially Indiana University Basketball and later served as a Little League Umpire. Before graduation he was employed by Reader & Kline Fabrication Co. in Noblesville, Ind. He later worked as a machinist and forklift operator for a number of years. His other education was Industrial Management at Indianapolis Vocational Tech College. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy He was friendly and kind to others with respect to parents and elderly. He died very much a member of the Christian Faith and family. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Woodrow Wilson "SHORT"� and Evelyn Bush Bruce of Baxter. He spent many summers and vacations at their home in the Bruce Ridge Community of Putnam County. Survivors include daughter & son-in-law, Naomi Lynn & Mike Rivera , 2 granddaughters: Adriana & Aaliyah Rivera all of Indianapolis; mother, Linda Saylor of Mesa, Az.; father & step-mother, Dorris Ray & Jean Bruce of Silver Point, Tn.; 2 brothers & a sister-in-law, Steven & Dianne Bruce of Vaughn, Montana and Keith Bruce of Florence, Az.; mother of his daughter, Patricia Ann Bradford Bruce, aunts and uncles, Elaine Bibler, Bobby and Annette Bruce, Jim Calbert and Sue Bruce, Carol and Don Harrel, Peggy Chapman and Shirley and Wayne Putman. Family will receive friends at the church Sunday from 1 to 2 P.M. Bro. Ray Bruce will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany United Methodist Church.