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ELDRED BRUCE PREECE
April 24, 1932 ˜ June 21, 2024
In his own home, Bruce was born April 24, 1932, in Vernal, UT. He had an idyllic childhood, fishing, swimming in the local pond, and playing with the farm animals. In his youth, he excelled at sports including basketball, football and track. He also loved hunting deer and elk with his family.
After some time in college, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in western Canada. For the rest of his life, he was a passionate missionary. He completed his education at Brigham Young University and gained a masters degree in religious education. He spent about 35 years teaching, coordinating, and working with Native Americans for the Church Educational System.
He married Nancy Brighton in 1957 and welcomed five children and one Native American girl into their home. The family lived in Canada for about 10 years. Bruce served as president of the Canada Vancouver Mission from 1974-1977. The family then moved to Vancouver, WA, where they lived for 47 years. In retirement, Bruce enjoyed reading, hunting and fishing, church service and sitting around a campfire. He loved the Lord and his family.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Nancy Brighton; his children, Catherine, Stephen, Stewart (Tami), and Sara (Oliver); his 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
E. Bruce Preece (1974-1977) Following my release as mission president of the Canada Vancouver Mission in July 1977, I moved with my family to Vancouver, Washington where I coordinated Seminaries in southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon, and taught at the Institute of Religion in Portland, Oregon and Clark College in Vancouver. In 1994, I retired from CES after 35 years and for the past five years have served as a Bishop in the Vancouver Stake. In January of 1998, my wife, Nancy, and I plan to serve another mission together, but at this time do not know where.(Prsident and Sister Preece has been called to server in Nauvoo)
As you missionaries might expect, I have continued my interest in hunting and fishing, adding to my collection of stories as I enjoy what outdoor humorist Pat McMannus describes as "fine and pleasant misery." I also love to garden and putter around our ranch style home. Soon after retiring in 1994, I also began writing my personal history. Nancy has, among a variety of church callings, served as a ward Primary president and Stake Relief Society president. She manages to keep busy with volunteer literacy tutoring and DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.) We both love to travel and have been back to Canada several times. In 1978 we joined a never-to-be-forgotten CES sponsored three week tour of the Holy Land including side trips to Italy, Greece, and Jordan.
Our "mission home transfer" daughter Sara, now twenty-one, recently left home to live and work in Portland, Oregon leaving us empty nested. I'll give a brief rundown on our other children, all married with children of their own. Catherine, and husband Rick Rhodes, make their home in Los Angeles where they own and publish a magazine. They have three blonde headed kids, Ricky 5, Elizabeth 3 and a two year old Hannah Jo. Stephen, after earning his PhD in International Business from the University of Ohio, teaches at a university near Toronto, Canada. He and Martina have two children, a boy Jasper, age eight and a girl, Erika 4. Stewart and his wife Tami recently moved into a new home in Everett, Washington. (near Seattle) where he is employed by Toshiba. Chasing after robust Riley, age 3, a future running back for the Dallas Cowboys, and their new arrival Logan, keeps them busy.
Personal regards to all our Mountain Top Missionaries and your families!
(November 4, 1997) E. Bruce Preece |
