James Russell Bruner

BOSSIER CITY, LA - James Russell Bruner was born on May 8, 1936 in Orlando, Florida and strongly disapproved of temperatures lower than 67ºF for the remainder of his eighty years. He decided to become a physician at the age of seven, changing his previous career plan of becoming a fireman. A former Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow, Jim graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1960, serving his internship at Mercy Hospital, New Orleans. He completed residencies in General and Thoracic Surgery at Confederate Memorial Medical Center in Shreveport and joined with Dr. Stanford Shelby to perform the first open heart surgery undertaken in Shreveport. Dr. Bruner was a founding member of the LSU - Shreveport Medical Center School of Medicine, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society, and was a member of the American Board of Surgery, the Southwest Surgical Conference, the American College of Physician Executives, and was a Fellow of the American College of Surgery. His personal faith influenced both his professional and personal life; Jim will be remembered as a man of generosity with a multitude of kindnesses whether baling hay for friends in DeSoto Parish, rescuing abandoned animals, or delivering newspapers to front doors for his elderly neighbors in Bossier City. He was a patriot, a lifelong member of the NRA, a keen hunter, horseman, amateur bird-watcher, and pea-sheller extraordinaire. An avid Biblical scholar, Dr. Jim (Doc) conducted Bible studies for over thirty years, mentoring many family and friends. Dr. Bruner passed to his heavenly reward at home on February 23, 2016 after being cared for in his final days by Regional Hospice Care Group; the family is extremely grateful for tender and attentive care delivered by Robyn Watkins, Felicia Tyler, and other outstanding staff. A memorial celebration will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Marshall Street Chapel. Officiating will be Lt. Col. Ted Steen, Lt. Col. Bobby Arthur, Lt. Col. Matt Daniel, and Mr. Ken McCoy. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home. Jim is survived by his wife, Judith Jones Bruner; daughter, Michele Bruner Payne and husband John of Houston, Texas; daughter, Anne-Marie Bruner-Tracey and husband Eamonn of London, England; three grandsons, Joshua Payne, Jason Payne, and Iorwerth Tracey; and former wife, Rosana Snyder Bruner of Shreveport, Louisiana. Also surviving are sister, Sally Bruner Partridge of Orlando, Florida; sister-in-law, Carol Hamlin of Maggie Valley, North Carolina; brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Barbara Jones of Tallulah, Louisiana; brother-in-law, Robert A. Rima of Austin, Texas; niece, Deborah Skinner and nephew, Doug Partridge of Orlando, Florida; niece, Dr. Sara Klug and nephew, Brant Jones of Monroe, Louisiana; nieces, Lindsey Rima, and Meredith Garee of Austin, Texas; and numerous extended family and friends. Preceding him in death are parents, Thomas Heyward and Gladys Russell Bruner; brother, Thomas Heyward Bruner, Jr; son, Steven Mark Bruner; parents-in-law, Emmett Preston and Ruth Strain Jones; sister-in-law, Karen Jones Rima; and step-father, Ralph Edmund Hoffmeyer. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163, the Rotary Club of Shreveport, P.O. Box 380, Shreveport, LA 71162, or the Keachi Heritage Foundation, Hwy 5 Box 24, Keachi, LA 71046.