Rev. R. Bruce Smay, 94, of Hughesville, went to be with the lord on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport. Born December 11, 1924 in Clearfield County, he was the first of twelve children born to the late Raymond A. and Ursula (Passmore) Smay.
Bruce was a 1942 graduate of Clearfield High School. He served proudly and honorably in the U. S. Navy during WWII as a second class petty officer, flying as a gunner on a carrier based airplane. At one point, Bruce survived a plane crash in the Atlantic ocean while hunting Nazi Subs.
He was also a 1949 graduate of Lycoming College and a 1952 graduate of Garrett School of Theology. Bruce received his local preachers license in 1948 and served the Morris charge. On June 12, 1948, he married the former Winifred Eddy Taber, they set up house in Morris and expanded their family to include two children, Katherine and John.
After Seminary, Win and Bruce served Avis, St. Peters Riverside, where they got involved in building new church buildings and the same was true when they served Muncy and Hollidaysburg. While serving Stevens Memorial in Harrisburg, Winifred died of cancer Nov. 29, 1985, ending the marital union of over 37 years.
On July 19, 1987 Bruce married the former Jeane Harris Gulliver. They retired and moved to Muncy in 1989, after which he served as mentor and assistant to Warrensville charge for four years. During his ministry, Bruce served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Education, Camps and Retreats Commission and served as a Certified Lab School Teacher.
He was involved in many camping events and since his retirement led more than 40 events. Bruce was an avid outdoorsman, who loved to camp, fish and hunt. He was a member of Trout Unlimited and helped start the liming of several creeks in central PA.
Bruce was also a member of the Rock Run Rod and Gun Club for 61 years and was the club president for the last 30 years. He was also a lifetime member of the NRA and a Mason. Bruce was a loving and devoted family man to his wife, children and grandchildren and was overjoyed to see two great-grandsons, of whom he was very proud.
In addition to his wife, Jeane, he is survived by a daughter, Katherine (Kevin) Baer, of Fort Wayne, IN; a son, John (Marta) Smay, of Muncy; two grandchildren, Gabrielle (Alex) Marconnet and Tyler (Jessica) Smay; and two great-grandchildren, Isaac Edward and Alexander John Marconnet; five step grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; six brothers, Robert, James, Richard, Clyde, Joseph and Roy Smay; and three sisters, Betty Cadden, Josephine Swatsworth and Mary Marasa. In addition to his parents and first wife, Winifred, he was predeceased by two sisters, Isabelle Smay and Norma Jean Anderson. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Grenoble’s, 121 S. Main St., Muncy, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at the First United Methodist Church, 602 S. Market St., Muncy, where the funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev.
Arlene Beechert and the Rev. Brand Eaton, officiating. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, at the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Clearfield.
The family will provide the flowers and suggests memorial contributions in Bruce’s name be made to either the First United Methodist Church, put Winifred Smay Memorial Fund in the memo and mail to, 602 S. Market St., Muncy, PA 17756 or to the SUSUMC, put Wesley Forest in the memo, and mail to Camp & Retreat Ministry, 303 Mulberry Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.
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