Eugene “Gene” Edward Bruick, 89, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2019 at his home in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Gene was born to Joseph E. Bruick and Cecelia M. (Strack) Bruick in Conway, Arkansas. He was one of seven children. He graduated from Saint Joseph High School in Conway in 1948, and was also a Graduate of the University School of Hard Knocks!
Gene served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War retiring as a Master Sergeant. He met his beautiful bride and wife of 65 years, Ruth Ellen Gleason, in Little Rock where they eventually moved to Fort Smith/Charleston, and have resided for the last 58 years.
In 1954, Gene began his lifetime career in the Farmer’s Cooperative industry, first in Conway, then Hope, and finally Fort Smith, where he grew and acquired several stores, including Van Buren, to grow the farming industry, always with the intent to support local farmers and their families in the Arkansas and Oklahoma region. He retired as CEO after 56 years. He has always been known in the area as Mr. Co-op. His love for the Co-op and the Fort Smith area was evident in many of his other community relations, such as past president of the 4H Foundation and past president and current secretary-treasurer of the Arkansas Oklahoma Rodeo Fair Board. Gene was also a devout Catholic, who volunteered each Sunday distributing Communion to local patients, was a Eucharist Minister for 30 years, and was involved in many other church organizations and ministries such as Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, Pre-Cana, Community Rescue Mission, Knights of Columbus, Gregory Kistler Treatment Center, Red Cross, and Heart-to-Heart Pregnancy Support Center. He was also an astute business person who served for many years with the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Mercy Foundation, and River Valley Bank. Gene is also a 2020 nominee for the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. Apart from managing his company, and numerous volunteer activities, Gene most enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved to go golfing, meeting friends at Mercy Fitness, and his Men of Faith weekly meetings.
Gene is survived by his wife, Ruth; and children, John (Jack) Joseph and wife Donna, Karen Bruick Meyers and husband Danny, all of Fort Smith and Kevin Michael and wife Robin of Little Rock; grandchildren, Meredith (Cole) Colville of Montgomery, AL, Lauren (Clinton) Shown of Greenwood, Christopher (Chelsea) Bruick of Houston, Gregory Meyers of Arlington, VA, Erica Meyers of Charlotte, NC, Katie Bruick of Bentonville, Jenna Bruick of Dallas and Ben Bruick of Kansas City; and sister, Hilda Nahlen of Conway. Gene was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Anton, Edwin, Gerald, and Joe Bruick; and sister, Lorene Bane.
Gene lived a full live, devoted to his lovely wife Ruth, his family, and the other love of this life, the Farmers Coop. His hobby was his work until later in life when golf became his passion.
Rosary and visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, November 13 at 6:30 PM at Immaculate Conception Church and funeral services on Thursday at 10:00 AM also at Immaculate Conception Church. A private crematoria service will be held at later date. The family will greet friends at 5:30 PM prior to the Rosary service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heart-to-Heart Pregnancy Center, Gregory Kistler Center, Immaculate Conception, or Trinity Junior High.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Gregory Meyers, Christopher Bruick, and Ben Bruick, Cole Colville, Clinton Shown, and Jordan, Andrew, and Joshua Davis. Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Hudsbeth, Renny Chesshir, Jack Grote, Leo Anhalt, Clyde Johnston, and the I.C. Men of Faith group.
