Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
James Ray Bruening
1933 - 2023
James Ray Bruening
1933 - 2023
Obituary
Guest Book
James Bruening Obituary
Jim received a call to pastoral ministry while in high school and continued his ministerial training after college. He graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, in 1960 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree and was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel in the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which united with the Methodist Church to become the United Methodist Church.
Jim served three churches in twelve years in the E.U.B. denomination. He was pastor of churches in Johnstown, Colorado, Espa?ola, New Mexico, and Aurora, Colorado. He became a Presbyterian pastor in 1972 and served churches in Roswell, New Mexico, and Mesa, Arizona. He received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1984.
Following eleven years as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Mesa, he retired from active service in 1998, but continued serving churches when needed. Jim was involved in community service in each city that he served. In retirement, he loved doing genealogy and scrapbooking in order to leave his family a sense of their history.
He is survived by his wife, Laura, and three children: Linda (Dan) Reeves of Mesa, Brian (Callie) Bruening of Lubbock, Texas, and Lisa (Kurt) Dorr of Little Elm, Texas, and six grandchildren: Kevin (Jess) and Jason (Amanda) Reeves, Laura (Javier) Pe?a, Carter (Brittney) Bruening, Austin (Peyton) and Garrett Dorr, and seven great grandchildren: Brielle, Everleigh, Declynn and Owen Reeves, Sophia, Isabella and David Pe?a.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Mesa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to First Presbyterian Church, 161 N. Mesa Drive, Mesa, AZ 85201.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Julia (Jacko) Fitzpatrick
September 3, 2025
Dearest Laura & family, I was in the process of writing my autobiography today (I'm applying to become a Deaconess in the United Methodist Church), and I thought about your sweet husband, so I looked him up and discovered this obituary. I wanted you to know that your husband/father had a great impact in my life during my years living in New Mexico. Not only was he my pastor, but he also married my husband and I 47 years ago. I feel like my time at First Presbyterian Church in Roswell as an extremely formative time in my Christian faith, and I thank "Rev. Jim" for being instrumental in that formation. Thank you for sharing him with all of us who benefitted from his great desire to reach out!
Judy May Snyder
July 23, 2023
Hi Laura. Our family moved to Roswell in 1981 when my husband, Don May, took a job there. Our search for a church to join ended the Sunday we made our first visit to First Presbyterian. On that day, Jim said " You don´t have to be a Presbyterian to go to Heaven. You just have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God". We knew that day that we had found the church for us. We lived in Roswell four years, and in those four years the church made us welcome in every way. I served on one of Jim´s committees and I remember him saying " Judy, your Baptist is showing". He was right, of course, given that I had grown up in the Baptist church. But with Jim´s guidance, we all became ardent Presbyterians! I often think of those times, and so today I thought I´d just look on line to see if I could find you, and then I came across the obituary. I am so sorry to learn of Jim´s passing, and wish I had reached out earlier to him. Our years in NM and being involved in First Presbyterian are some of my best memories. Sadly, Don unexpectedly passed away 21 years ago. Our girls, Alicia and Kristin, are both married with grown children now and still teaching. Please know that you and your family are in our prayers and Jim will always be remembered fondly by my girls and me. Judy May Snyder
Hollis Wilson
April 29, 2023
My deepest sympathies to your family. I was a candlelight lighter with Doug Serry at there wedding at Emanuel Presbyterian so long ago.
Ll
April 18, 2023
May God´s loving kindness and comfort help you and your family through this very difficult time. Matthew 5:4
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results
Make a Donation
in James Bruening's name
How to support James's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor James Bruening's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
