Obituary for Dr. Alfred Bruce Coyle Dr. Alfred Bruce Coyle, age 88, of Jefferson City, TN died on Friday, May 18, 2018 in Knoxville, TN following complications from dementia. Born in Memphis, TN on August 27, 1929, Bruce was the son of the late Charles Frank Coyle and Edith Butler Coyle. Bruce grew up with older brother, Charles, in a Depression era family where faith and hard work abounded.
Bruce’s father was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Highland Heights Baptist Church and an electrical engineer for the Memphis street railway system during the 1930s-1940s. Working with his father before he died when Bruce was only 19 years old, Bruce dug rail lines by hand in the Memphis city streets during the summers of his youth. From his early childhood through his adolescence during WWII, Bruce’s industrious, frugal, dependable family cultivated Godly values in him, where church attendance, Bible study, prayer, family time, education, service to others,self-reliance and productivity were modeled as fundamental character traits.
On September 9, 1949, at the age of 20, Bruce married Joan Barber of Jackson, TN, the one true love of his life. They met while Bruce attended Union University, where he played collegiate tennis and was a cheerleader. Joan, who Bruce called “Jodie,” was Bruce’s devoted wife and companion for more than 64 years.
In his life’s pursuit of ministry and higher education, Bruce earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Union University in Jackson, TN and both a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Bruce served as a full-time Southern Baptist pastor for more than 35 years, including at Memorial Baptist Church in Murray, KY and the following churches in Tennessee: Westover Baptist Jackson, Signal Mountain Baptist Chattanooga, First Baptist Rogersville, Highland Heights Baptist Memphis and First Baptist Rockwood. Later in life, he also served as interim pastor for at least 13 churches over a period of 15 years, including at First Baptist Newport, Lyons Creek Baptist Strawberry Plains, First Baptist Dandridge, Central Baptist Oak Ridge, Mouth of Richland Baptist Blaine, Central Baptist Fountain City, Alice Bell Baptist Knoxville, Magna View Baptist Talbot, Alpha Baptist Morristown, Mount Olive Baptist Knoxville, Valley Grove Baptist Knoxville, First Baptist Pigeon Forge and Alpha Baptist Morristown.
Because of his gift as a public speaker, Bruce was widely sought after to conduct revivals, which he did in 15 states. As a classical, educated preacher, Bruce always trusted in the true Word of God, the Holy Spirit’s still small voice, and the congregation’s intellect instead of frothed-up human fervor, browbeating and contrived emotion. Bruce’s lifelong ministry and executive management not only made a local impact but a national and global one, too, particularly through his mission leadership.
Bruce served on the Board of Directors of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta, GA, in addition to serving as President of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board. In his home state of Tennessee, Bruce served as President of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, as a member of the Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and as a member of the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Union University, as Trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention Baptist Foundation, as preacher for Southern Baptist Convention annual meetings, and as preacher of the annual sermon at the Pan American Convention in Central America.
In the later stage of his career, Bruce served as Executive Vice President of Development for Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN, where he distinguished himself in identifying, cultivating and attracting the stewardship of individuals whose charitable objectives were consistent with those of Christian higher education. As Biblical scholar, pastor, preacher, teacher, wedding and funeral officiant, and executive administrator, Bruce spent his entire professional life in loyal service of the church and Christian education. In doing this with his life, Bruce brought thousands of individuals into a more perfect relationship with God our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ His Son.
In his personal life, Bruce was a devoted husband, loving father and proud grandfather. He cared for his family tirelessly and worked hard to give himself to it. Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Charles Frank Coyle; mother, Edith Butler Coyle; brother, Charles Frank Coyle II, wife, Joan Barber Coyle, and grandson, Christopher Anthony Coyle; Survivors include his three sons, Alfred Bruce (Fred) Coyle II, wife Rejane Costa Coyle, and former wife Debora Jane Annis Coyle of Knoxville, TN; Dr. Philip Anthony Coyle and his wife, Judith Anne Caudle Coyle of Chattanooga, TN; and Frank Aaron Coyle, Esq.
and his wife Laura Beth Easterly Coyle of Nashville, TN; seven grandchildren, Chelsey Erin Coyle Bowen (Jordan), Alfred Bruce “Trey” Coyle III (Sarah), Chase Daniel Coyle (Charity), Philip Andrew Coyle (Chelsea), Maxwell Garrett Coyle and Jack Ryan Coyle; and five great grandchildren, Emerson Grace Bowen, Everly James Bowen, Adeline Grace Coyle, Asher Barrett Dante Coyle and Harper Evelyn Coyle. Receiving of family and friends will be held Monday, May 21, 2018 from 5 pm – 7 pm Eastern Time at First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, TN immediately after which the memorial service will be conducted by Rev. Ray Lloyd, with eulogies also delivered by Dr. Bruce Coyle’s brother-in-law, Dr. John Rufus Barber, and son, Dr. Philip Anthony Coyle.
The immediate family will hold a private committal service at 11 am Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Highland Memorial Park in Knoxville, TN, Dr. Bruce Coyle’s place of rest next to his beloved wife, Joan Coyle. ARRANGEMENTS BY FARRAR FUNERAL HOME IN JEFFERSON CITY, TN 865-475-3892 www. farrarfuneralhome.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Alfred Bruce Coyle please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Receiving of Friends 2018 MAY 21. 05:00 PM – 07:00 PM First Baptist Church of Jefferson City 1610 Russell Avenue Jefferson City, TN, US Order Flowers for the Receiving of Friends Guaranteed delivery before Alfred’s Receiving of Friends begins. Memorial 2018 MAY 21.
07:00 PM First Baptist Church of Jefferson City 1610 Russell Avenue Jefferson City, TN, US Order Flowers for the Memorial Service Guaranteed delivery before Alfred’s Memorial Service begins. Private Graveside Interment 2018 MAY 22. 11:00 AM Highland Memorial Park 5315 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN, US, 37919 Order Flowers for the Private Graveside Interment Guaranteed delivery before Alfred’s Private Graveside Interment begins.
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