Bruce Hadden Eastman, 94, a resident of Albuquerque, NM and Salida, CO passed from this life June 23 after a brief and unexpected illness. Father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Bruce was a child of the depression, taking on what proved to be a life long practice of caring for his family. During the Depression, Bruce’s father of six was forced to move to various communities in Nebraska trying to find work in the banking industry. Bruce contributed to the family income as a paper boy, grocery clerk, handy man. A drafting class in high school provided the skills for him to illustrate a book for a college forestry professor and led to his love of the outdoors as well as a career path in forestry. As a Civilian Conservation Corps volunteer, his drafting skills enabled him to map much of the country around Fairplay, CO. It was during this time that he began to sketch forest scenes and old buildings encountered in his work. In time Bruce became a well-recognized artist whose fall cottonwood and old adobe winter scenes grace many local businesses and homes.

Bruce worked his way through Colorado A & M (now Colorado State). It was here that he met his wife of more than 60 years, Mary R. “Bobbie” Fuller. After graduation Bruce and Bobbie were married and moved to Ft. Defiance AZ where he was employed by the U.S Forest Service as a forestry adviser to the Navajo Tribe. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1943 working primarily in camouflage design during his active duty years. After discharge from active service in 1946, he served many years in the New Mexico National Guard, retiring from the Armed Services in 1974 with the rank of Major.

After his discharge from the Army, Bruce and Bobbie raised their family in Albuquerque where he worked for both the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. After retirement, Bruce and Bobbie moved back to Colorado living in Salida for more than twenty years. During this time they traveled, he painted and they entertained family and friends. He and Bobbie returned to Albuquerque to be near family when Bobbie’s health began to decline. After her death in December 2000, Bruce elected to maintain his own home, managing his own cooking, shopping and cleaning. He provided visiting great grandchildren (who lovingly called him Fav), the best pizza and Jell-O lunches imaginable. He was a humorous, artistic and gentle man and will be dearly missed by all of his children and grandchildren.

His daughters Judith Eastman Meyners (Richard), and Jane Eastman Schuman (Walter) of Albuquerque survive Bruce. Grandchildren are CH (MAJ) Eric Richard Meyners and Lois of Ramstein Germany, Brenda Meyners Sears and Lon of Bow Mar CO, Noel Meyners Harris and Alex of Omaha NE, Walter Bruce Schuman and Cody of Portland OR, Marney Schuman Powell and William of Temecula CA. Great grandchildren are Gustav, Mason and Elsa Meyners, Trent and Kara Sears, Zoë and Sophia Harris, Zane, Titus, Levi and Sullivan Powell. Also surviving are sister Betty Lowe and niece Darci White.

A Gathering of Friends and Family is planned for the morning of July 24 at the Villa Serena Club House, 1379 Wagon Train SE from10:00 to 12:00 am. Friends may call at any time between those hours. Private graveside services will be held at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe NM where Bruce will at last rest next to his beloved Bobbie.

Should friends wish, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, ATTN: MCEUL-CH/Chaplains Office, CMR 402, APO AE 09180 (check donations payable to IMCOM-E CTOF-WW) or Heifer International. Go online to Heifer International and follow the links No flowers please.