Opal "Marlene" Bruce

Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery

 Clevceland Co. Oklahoma

August 26, 1935 - November 7, 2021

Submitted by Tiffany Wear Bowdler

Cleveland County, Oklahoma Opal Marlene Wear......."Little Marlene" was a beautiful girl child borne to Nettie and Virgil Wear in Okla. City, Aug. 26, 1935. She was their eldest child with younger brothers, Jack Wear  and Vernon Ray Wear. Her favorite Aunt, only eight years older was Wanda Dixon Minson and favorite Uncle, Raymond  Dixon, a veteran of WWII.

Marlene was a lovely teenager performing in choir at Moore Highschool and quickly caught the eye of classmate Vernon "Bud" Bruce. They were married June 1st, 1952 with friends, Mary and Jerry Hicks attending as Best Man and Matron of Honor.

Like most women, wives, mothers of the 1950's Marlene did it all; from home, work, church, March of Dimes, 4-H, Boy Scouts, Vacation Bible School....Two week! Vacation Bible Schools, piano lessons, twirling lessons, football uniforms, Falls Creek Youth to church choir. She also attended Cosmetology School and  crafts, like crocheting, sewing, quilting, pirating movies on VHS tapes and "foiling" anything that would sit still long enough!!!
There was always Pot Roadt or Fried Chicken for Sunday dinner, not to mention Wednesday night Fellowship dinners at church, Women's Missionary Union and countless Sunday School parties. The neighborhood church held our community together.

Our mother, Marlene went to Cosmetology school. Dad promptly remodeled part of the garage for this cottage industry. It was fun! She, Nana and Pa Bud were all in with a new role as grandparents. They did good! Later, mom went to work for Truckers Bookerping and then with dad's trucking company, Simmco and Geronimo.

Not to be forgotten are Marlene's canines/dogs.....first in the 1970's was a black, mal-adjusted poodle named Franc~course! He could grab your leg and pee on your shoe in 43 seconds flat! Later would come Chow and Buffy who could easily have shared the name Kujo!!!

Marlene started life with challenges but the worst for her, Bud and the family...came when their only son, Doug , died from a motorcycle accident April 3rd, 1970. But even at such a young age, many friends or classmates, Apollyras members, New Life singers, told of how Doug had helped them in some way or how they knew that truly becoming a Christian.......warts and all was real. Doug's death affected the family, school, and the church families. Because of incorrect teachings at the time, many were left to wonder, mostly family, Why God was punishing them OR Why would such a thing be God's will? The Truth is.......it is not God's will. Our Creator grieves with us and takes delight in our Joy and Happiness!
The Truth is we live, not in the Garden of Eden, but in a wonderful, but dangerous world, where a connection to our Creator is Imperative! We live in a physical,plane connected to a Spiritual realm few of us are truly aware of.  But it exists! And God, through His only son, Jesus, has made a promise to us...Life After Life!

Marlene, Bud, Doug along with countless others  who Already know You! They will see you There!!!