She graduated high school after 11th grade and worked as a time keeper and bookkeeper for her dad. She married and had a daughter, Mary Etta. After a divorce from her first husband, she married Joseph B. Bruning after his years in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Bruning worked for the U.S. Post Office and made a career of this. Mary Bruning had another daughter, Margaret Jeanet Bruning and two sons, Joseph W. Bruning and Theodore Bismark Bruning.
After living in Lake Charles, her husband was transferred to Corpus Christi, TX upon promotion. She loved to paint portraits and pictures of landscapes, so her husband made a special room for her hobby. After Corpus Christi, he was transferred again to Dallas, TX. Maggie had always been active in church wherever she was and taught us about Jesus Christ. She always thought of others, and not herself. After Dallas, her husband was transferred to Shreveport, where she took her art classes. Joe Bruning was then transferred to Memphis, TN where he completed his career as one of the five postmaster district managers under the U.S. Postmaster General under the Jimmy Carter administration. Maggie traveled quite a lot and went to every state in the U.S.; along with Canada and Mexico. She stuck by her husband through thick and thin. Joe B. retired from the Post Office January 7, 1981, and passed away February 7, 1981. They were living in an Airstream RV in Zavalla, TX at the time because they were looking for a place to settle down between kids living in LA and TX. Since her husband passed away, Maggie then bought a house in Nacogdoches, TX. After a while she moved to Italy, TX. After having several mini strokes, she lived with one of her sons in Navarro Mills. Maggie liked being outdoors and loved music. She also served in the Eastern Star in LA. Maggie was very smart and witty. She also loved to read and cook.
She is survived by her children, Mary Wagnon McManus and husband Walter of DeRidder, Jeanet Iles and husband Bill of Livingston, TX, Joe Bruning and wife Shirley, and Theodore Bismark Bruning, both of Purdon, TX; eleven grandchildren; twenty eight great grandchildren; several great great grandchildren; along with siblings, Ollie Savant of Kinder, LA, Irma Jean Goodwin of Sulphur, and Walter Miller of Florida.
Maggie is preceded in death by her loving husband of 32 years, Joseph Benjamin Bruning; her parents; brother, David B. Miller; and a sister, Betty Long.
Funeral Services will be held at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm with Bill Iles officiating. Visitation will be at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Friday, January 25, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visitation will resume at the funeral home on Saturday, from 12:00 pm until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
