Noel Bruce departed this earth on September 5th, 2025, at the age of 72. He was born in Batesville, AR, to parents James and Maxine Bruce and is preceded in death by his parents, as well as one son, Kenneth Bruce. He is survived by his brother Richard (Laquita) Bruce and sister Peggy (Ricky) Thomas, his wife Brenda Bruce, three children, Jonathan (Jennifer) Bruce, Beth (Chris) Stewart, and Michael (Ashlyn) Bruce, and his lifelong friend Linda Cooper. He was the very proud grandpa (Grampy) of 8 grandkids: Carter, Colby, Caleb, Cannon, Dean, Lawson, Lynlee, and Mavry.
Noel graduated from Newark High School in 1970 and received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas in 1977. He started his own company, Bruce Design and Construction and built many of the homes around Independence County. Throughout his time, he served on the Newark school board and was also a fantastic instructor for the Independence County 4-H shooting sports team during its origin.
Noel was a lover of creation, which made him an avid outdoorsman who hunted and fly fished whenever there was an opportunity, and expressed his own creativity through construction projects, photography, painting, quilting, and carving. There wasn’t a time when Noel was not thinking about the outdoors, as seen in his many hunting pictures and expressed in his artwork. It was a priority of his to share this love of creation and creativity with his children and grandchildren; however, their likes and interests became his priorities as well.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cord Baptist Church with Bro. Michael Bruce and Bro. Jeff Childers officiating. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Arrangements by Qualls Funeral Homes.
Noel’s family wants to offer a special thank you to White River Oncology and Caring Hands Hospice for the exceptional care they provided. You are much appreciated. To express their gratitude, Noel’s family asks for gifts in the form of donations to White River Oncology for the expansion of their treatment facility or donations for patient supplies to Caring Hands Hospice.
To all friends and acquaintances, the family would like you to know that Noel’s final moments were peaceful and a celebration of life, love, and family. He is no longer struggling and is with the ultimate creator now.
