Howard Bruce Gardner

Like most of his family, Bruce was born (May 14, 1929) in El Paso, TX. He attended Texas Western College, where he met the love of his life, Mary Lou Preston. Upon graduation from TWC, they married on May 23,1950. Bruce worked for Chevron Oil in his early career, and moved his family from El Paso to Albuquerque, NM, to Snyder, TX, and finally to Denver, CO, while advancing slowly from one promotion to another. While in Denver, he left Chevron Oil to become a State Farm Insurance agent, which he loved until retirement in 1994. Meanwhile, I In 1976, he moved his family to Brighton, CO. In 1985, he lost his “Precious” wife.

As his children grew into adulthood, they moved to other parts of the country. Bruce loved to travel and he spent many of his trips traveling during retirement to see his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in Texas, Arizona, California, and Massachusetts. He loved to watch football, as he was a “star” All District player in high school. Bruce also loved photography and always carried a 35mm SLR camera. He loved taking pictures of nature and he was the king of close-ups of family and friends. In his ample spare time, he loved playing Free Cell and he didn’t like to lose. Bruce’s house became the place to go when visiting Colorado. He was an excellent and generous host (as long as you didn’t mind the dust).

Bruce is survived by his sons James Lee (Susan), Robert Bruce, Thomas Charles (Nora), and his daughter Peggy Susan, as well as grand children Zach, Sophie, Toby, Brianna, Andrew, and Samantha. He also has his “harem” of great granddaughters Jontaya, Jae’lyn, Molly, Maddie, Emma, and Annie. He was preceded in death by both parents, brother Charles, his beautiful wife, Mary Lou, and his beloved daughter Nancy Edith.

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