Bruce Wayne Watley

Bruce Wayne Watley, 84, of Stuart, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on February 18, 2026 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Bruce was born at home on July 12, 1941, in Monteagle, Tennessee. He lived a long happy life full of purpose, faith, family, and love.

Bruce was preceded in death by his wise and loving parents: Grady Watley and Thelma Meeks Watley; his treasured sisters: Lavona Nunley, Lynne Phelps, and Donna Graham, his oldest son, Tom Watley, as well as, many dear extended family members. No one is forgotten and everyone he loved lived on is his heart.

Bruce is survived by the love of his life and devoted wife of 20 years, Carol Owens-Watley, sister Joy (Dave Sturtevant), daughter Shannon Watley, son Ryan (Brandy) Watley, Angie (Kenney) Burke, Todd (Colleen Flaherty) Owens, Stacey Cabrera, and Chad (Jessica) Owens and his adoring grandchildren: Mia, Hunter, Kate, Skylar, and Gavin. There are so many extended family members, nieces and nephews, and countless others that were dear to him. He loved his bonus children through marriage and being uncle "Tool Bruce" to the younger children in the family.

As a young man, Bruce embraced adventure and made a living as a bull rider in rodeos—a time he often reminisced about with great fondness. We're sure it was the way he always saw himself. He was fearless and strong and desired to excel at anything he set his mind to do. He reflected on those pivotal years in his life often because he made a mature choice to leave behind the selfish pursuits of a young man seeking fame and fortune in a competitive sport to settle down and become a husband and father and raise a family. He was an active and involved father and we knew we were his treasure, his pride and joy.

A skilled and dedicated general contractor by trade, Bruce found immense joy and purpose in his work and never truly wanted to retire. His passion for building extended far beyond homes and swimming pools; he was a builder of relationships and community. Known for his kindness and thoughtfulness, Bruce gave freely of his time to help others. He approached life with selflessness and an open heart, always seeking ways to make a positive impact on those around him. He was an incredibly hard worker, would do anything for anyone, and passed on his strong work ethic to his children. We learned from the best and he instilled into his children traits like honesty, humor, tenacity, endurance, resilience, and fortitude. We are blessed and grateful for his love and guidance. He was a man that told you that he loved you often. He expressed himself well and would talk for hours about life and stories from the bible. He was authentic, forthright and trustworthy.

Bruce's faith was central to his life. Though he was raised in a Christian home, he developed a deep and personal relationship with Jesus Christ in his 50s. He embodied the verse from Matthew 22:37: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." A devoted reader of the Bible, Bruce encouraged his children to embrace their own faith journeys and prayed for us.

Bruce loved life's simple pleasures—chancing his luck on weekly lottery tickets, playing card games, solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles, staring out at the ocean, watching the evening news and Jeopardy with Carol, and sharing time and laughter with family and friends. His weekly Tuesday morning outings with friends for men's fellowship was a highlight of his week. His curiosity about the world and people made him a joy to be around. He had a fun sense of humor that brought lightheartedness to every gathering. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, and man of unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.

May Bruce's legacy of love, kindness, and faith continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know him. A Celebration of Life will be held on February 26, 2026, from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM at Revive Church 8851 SW Old Kansas Avenue in Stuart, FL. Please join us and share our favorite memories together.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials and donations be made to Treasure Coast Hospice, an organization that supports patients and families during the most challenging time in their lives. Their support throughout Bruce's illness provided a steady hand and much comfort in a most uncertain time. https://treasurehealth.org/292/Donate