Bruce Smart

1928 - 2016

Bruce Wilton Smart of Fort Morgan, Colorado, age 88, died at Colorado Plains Medical Center in Fort Morgan, CO on February 7, 2016. Bruce was born to Spencer V. and Opal A. (Kough) Smart on January 6, 1928. His father's employment in the canning business required frequent moves, and Bruce attended schools in many states, with the majority of his education being achieved in Fort Morgan; Houston and La Feria, Texas; and Monticello, Arkansas. He considered his freshman and sophomore years in La Feria High School to be his most enjoyable school years where he lettered as the football team manager, and he received Top Scholastic Honors both years. Bruce attended Monticello High School for his junior and senior years, and during his senior year he was inducted into the National Honor Society and graduated third in his class in 1946. Through those late teenage years he worked various jobs, some alongside his father in the canning business. In 1947 he became a full-time resident of Fort Morgan. After graduating from high school he tried to enlist in the Air Corps but was denied enlistment due to his flat feet. Needing employment he contacted his uncle, Lee Iungerich, who lived north of Fort Morgan, and Lee put him to work on his farm until the farm's reduced work load through the winter once again required him to look for other employment. Until more-sustaining employment options could be acquired, he worked for Harold Berryhill at the Fort Morgan Airport, which is where he took flight training and earned his private pilot's license; Loren Anderson in his radio repair shop, building a life-long friendship with Loren and his wife, Francis; Harry Jacobson of Jacobson Motors; Hendrie and Bolthoff Auto Parts; Stickney's; and Century Geophysical Company--all Fort Morgan companies. In 1952 he began his career with Hamlin Electric Company/Hamlin Electrical Services, Inc. beginning as a groundman (helper) and retiring 44 years later as Assistant to the President. He was a Master Electrician licensed in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. Bruce was married to Dorothy J. Southern (from Monticello, Arkansas) from 1946-1950. He then married Elinor L. Williams (from Denver, Colorado) in 1950; they had two children, Evelyn and Kathy. After Elinor's death in 1972, he married Ruth (Jensen) Greenwalt (from Fort Morgan) in 1973 at the First Baptist Church, and her children Steve and Joan were welcomed into the family. After Ruth's death in 1995, he married Dorothy J. (Marick) Garver (from Fort Morgan) in 1996 at the First Baptist Church, and Dorothy's sons James, John and Curtis were also welcomed into the family. Bruce's interests and activities throughout his adult years included flying small planes, archery, bow and arrow fishing, and league bowling. He was very active in the Optimist Club of Fort Morgan, and one of his favorite activities through the Club was the distribution of dictionaries to school students in the third grade; his affiliation with the Club allowed him to build and maintain deep and lasting friendships with several members of the Club. He was a member of the BPOE since 1970. You could frequently find Bruce in his garage shop tinkering, repairing or building some item. Bruce was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Morgan in 1978; he served as Trustee for three terms, Deacon for one term, and Church Moderator for one term. He was a member of the Gideons for many years. He was a member of the IBEW Local 111; a member of the Optimist Club of Fort Morgan since 1967, serving in all elected offices of the local Club, and serving as Lt. Governor for Zone 4 of the Colorado/Wyoming District; he was a life member since 1973. He was a resident of Log Lane Village from 1956-1996, serving on the Town Council for eight years and serving as Mayor for eight more years. He was a part-time electrical vocational instructor for Morgan Community College, and he was a member of the Fort Morgan Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol for three years. Bruce is survived by his wife, Dorothy Garver Smart; daughter Evelyn Heidbrink and her husband, Larry, and grandchildren Larry, Jr., Wade and Christopher; daughter Kathy and husband; daughter Joan and her family; stepson James; stepson John and wife, Natasha, and their children Corbin and Barrett; and stepson Curtis and wife, Misty, and their children Mayci and Maelynn. He had eight great-grandchildren: Reilynn, Trenton, Serenity, Camryn, Bryce, Carson, Kimberly and Richard. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Spencer and Opal Smart; his sister, Beverly Mae Thompson; six half-brothers and sisters--Irene Smart Thompson, Kenneth Smart, Belmont Smart, Harold Smart, Lloyd Smart, and Virginia Smart; his previous wives Dorothy Southern, Elinor Williams, Ruth Greenwalt and her son, Steve. Visitation will be Friday, February 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Heer Mortuary. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 16756 CR 18, Fort Morgan, Colorado. Interment will be in Memory Garden in Fort Morgan following the service. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church of Fort Morgan in lieu of flowers.