OBITUARY: Bruce Perkins

Bruce Perkins

Bruce Gentry Perkins, age 70, died Sunday, June 26, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was born January 23, 1946 in Mesquite, Nevada to John Gentry and Carolyn Lewis Perkins. On December 26, 1969 he married Nancy Lee Grover in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Bruce spent most of his life in Overton, Nevada. He was a football  king, and track star in high school, and won the State Speech Contest in FFA. He worked summers at Simplot to earn money for a mission and college and with a sports scholarship was able to attend Ricks College, U of U, BYU, and NAU earning his Master’s Degree. He held the pole vaulting record at Moapa Valley High School and Ricks college for many years. He continued to pole vault up until three weeks before going to the hospital to receive a bone marrow transplant. He was a faithful member of the LDS church  and served a two and a half year mission in Chile. He coached and taught in the Moapa Valley schools from 1971 until 2001.  He loved his students and especially enjoyed track and wrestling. He taught English to the Spanish speaking students, and to this day many of those students are treasured friends.

Bruce filled his world with adventure, fun, family and friends, and never forgot to appreciate his heritage. He loved mining, nature, and was known as Tarzan. He counted his blessings, and was a kind, gentle, unselfish man with a heart big enough for everyone. He did quiet acts of service, and touched the lives of many people. In times of sadness or sorrow he was known to say “Tomorrow will be a brighter day”.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy of Overton, NV; two sons and one daughter:  Lane Perkins, Tommy Perkins of Overton, NV, Tamara (Michael) Tuttle of Gilbert, AZ; ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren; one sister and two brothers: Jackie (Kay) Leavitt, Murray Perkins and Melbourne (Marilyn) Perkins all of Overton, NV.  He was preceded in death by two sons: Gentry and Blair; one brother, Stephen and one sister, Candy.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Overton LDS Chapel. Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:30 prior to services at the chapel.  Interment will follow in the St. Thomas Cemetery.

Friends and family are invited to sign an online guest book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com