Garrett Jackson Bruce

Garrett Jackson Bruce was born September 15, 1993 in Plano, Texas to parents Bill and Martha Bruce. Garrett passed away unexpectedly on September 21, 2017 in Lubbock, Texas.  All of our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beloved son, brother, cousin and friend.  He was raised in Plano and grew up on every ballfield in the area; playing football, soccer, basketball and his true passion, baseball.

Garrett graduated from Plano West Senior High School in 2012. He played varsity baseball as a pitcher and loved his teammates like brothers.  Most especially, he loved playing on the field with his younger brother Blake.  He was a member of YMSL and Student Venture.  After graduation, he attended Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he was a member of the baseball team as well.  He then transferred to Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas where he pitched for a year and a half before graduating with an Associate’s Degree.  He often commented on how difficult it was at Hill College, but he refused any offers from family to make life more comfortable.  He said he wanted to be uncomfortable so that he would work as hard as possible to get to the next level.  He could not have been more proud that his youngest brother Grant followed in his footsteps to also attend and play at Hill.

After Hill College, Garrett was beyond excited to finally achieve his dream of playing baseball at Texas Tech University. While Garrett was a humble person he was so proud of achieving this goal.  He recently commented that even when he wasn’t the #1 pitcher he always believed he would be eventually.

He was an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend who was always thinking of ways to help others. Garrett often reached out to people to lift them up when they were feeling down and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed help with anything from school work to their golf game.  He had a wonderful smile and laugh that brightened any room he was in.  He comforted everyone with his big bear hugs and spent every day with his pride and joy; his dog Jeter.

When his baseball career came to an end, Garrett developed a love for the game of golf and would constantly ask his friends and dad to play. For him, 18 holes in a day was never enough.  “Let’s play another round”!   He loved fishing, hunting, watching movies and dreaming of new inventions.  He also enjoyed studying the stock market.  Garrett was so proud of his older brother Chase who is a Dallas Police Officer and his father who is a Dallas Fire Fighter.  He was pursuing a degree in finance at the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University, but recently decided that he wanted to follow in his dad or brothers path where he felt he would make a true difference in other people’s lives.

Making a positive impact had become his newest passion. He would tell his mom, “I need to figure out how to do something BIG!”  To honor Garrett’s wish to make a difference, the Garrett Bruce Memorial Fund has been established.  All contributions raised in his memory will benefit the National Fallen Police and Fire Fighter Associations and a Garrett Bruce Scholarship fund at Hill College.

The family will receive friends at a visitation Friday, September 29, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Allen Family Funeral Options. A funeral service will be held to celebrate Garrett’s life on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Hunters Glen Baptist Church, 4001 Custer Road, Plano, Texas 75023, officiated by Pastor Matt Henderson.

If desired contributions may be made to the Garrett Bruce Memorial Fund through PayPal at [email protected] or a check may be mailed to Garrett Bruce Memorial Fund, c/o  Allison Doyle 4584 Mackey Court, Plano, Texas  75024.