Perry N Bruce

January 9, 1953 – July 21, 2023

Perry died due to complications from treatment for cancer. He had devoted his 70 years of life to his family, his church, and the Boy Scouts. He was a Deacon at the Shelby Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. He was an Eagle Scout and a long-time Scoutmaster of Troop 9 in Nashville, TN. He worked with the Scouts on multiple Middle Tennessee Council Jamborees, two Wood Badges, 18 Summer Camps, and three National Jamborees. Perry made nine trips to the Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico, most escorting scouts from his Troop. (Go to www.mtcbsa.org for more details.) He also had a passion for the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

Perry graduated from Stratford High School in Nashville, TN. He obtained a Private Pilot license at the age of 16 and a Commercial Pilot license at the age of 19. This early interest in flying led him to obtain a B.S. in Aerospace Administration from the Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, during which time he also worked as a flight instructor. He held several jobs, the longest being with the Corps of Engineers in Nashville, TN, where he worked mostly in the Hydrology & Hydraulics Branch. He retired from the Corps with 35 years of service.

Perry was preceded in death by his father William Robert Bruce, Jr, his mother Mary Frances Hagar Bruce, and his brother Robert Wayne Bruce.

Perry is survived by his wife Phyllis, his nephew Jeremy (Erica), his grand-nephews Brennan (Savannah) Biggs, Caden Woods-soon-to-be-Bruce, Cai Bruce, his brothers-from-other-mothers Billy (Sandra) Marlin and Steve (Judy) Eubank, and his fur-baby Andy.

The family will receive visitors at the Hermitage Funeral Home at 535 Shutes Lane, Hermitage, TN, on Monday, July 31, 2023, from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. A Celebration of Perry’s life will be begin at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of the funeral home with Pastor Clay Faircloth officiating. Afterward, Perry will be laid to rest in the Binkley, Steele, Hagar Cemetery in Hermitage, TN. THE FAMILY REQUESTS THAT ALL SCOUTS AND FORMER SCOUTS ATTENDING WEAR THEIR CLASS “A” UNIFORM.

If you wish to do something to honor Perry’s life, please consider making a donation to one of the two organizations which played such a major part in his life, the Shelby Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, TN (see their Facebook page) or the Boy Scouts of America, Middle TN Council (www.mtcbsa.org).