Katerina (Katie)/Wesley Bruce

She soon after the death of her mother, Katie met Wesley Bruce and they began a courtship. Wesley was kind and caring and wanted to take care of Katie and also Julio. They were married on June 28, 1938. They were living in Kenilworth and Julio was living in Wattis with his step-father. Shortly after they were married Julio came to live with Katie and Wesley and remained with them for many many years.

On July 20, 1940 their first born – a son - Thomas James was born. He was raised in Kenilworth. Wesley worked in the Kenilworth mine and Katie stayed at home tending her son and taking care of the home. On November 21, 1949 they added a daughter to their family - Judy. They lived in Kenilworth and raised their children in the small close-knit community. Life was good but they worked hard taking care of their responsibilities of raising a family.

They were able to buy a home from the mining company and make monthly payments to the company as they went along until the company sold the home and the property to the individuals or families. We lived in this home with Mom and Dad, Julio, TJ and Judy. It was a happy family atmosphere. Dad and Julio both worked in the Kenilworth Mine, TJ and Judy went to school and Mom took care of all of us until in 1960 Julio got married and moved out of the home and began his family. We loved him being in the home with us. He of course was a big tease to all of us kids. We loved him.

Mom had a difficult time when TJ went in the Navy. She cried for a solid week each time he left to go back to his duty. TJ married Gay Lambert and she moved with him around the world.

Around 1964, Dad had a heart attack while he was out deer hunting and was forced to retire from work. Life changed but they continued to do what was needed.

After graduation from high school Judy married Jeff Judd and after completing college in Price they moved to Salt Lake to continue on with their education. It was a lonesome time for Mom and Dad. Mom went to work for the Carbon County nursing home in Price where she worked in the kitchen. It was hard work but she loved cooking for the residents and staff and planning meals and parties. She worked long enough to be able to retire.

When grandkids started to come to the family, they were spoiled by Grandma Katie and Grandpa too. She did all she could for her grandchildren. She loved them and they loved her right back. TJ and Gay had three children - Natalie, Todd and Kim. Judy and Jeff had four kids – Brett, Quent, Brandy and Mitch.

Katie was an excellent cook. She cooked and baked many old Italian recipes. She made Italian cookies (scalilis and dordilies and mustazoli) at holiday times as well as fudge and divinity and all types of cookies and pastries. She baked cinnamon rolls and cookies especially pineapple and her famous jumbo raisin cookies. She could bake any type of pie that you would want and never just one pie at a time – there was always plenty to share with the neighbors and friends. Mom hosted and cooked many delicious dinners for extended family and friends. She would make chop suey in her big electric roaster and the house would be filled with family and friends, eating until they were stuffed. Dad, Wesley, of course was right by her side cooking with her. They also would do a huge shrimp fry, Dad was in charge of frying the shrimp and Mom in charge of everything else, usually rice and whatever she could think of. Everybody was always invited too to the shrimp fry or buenucalda, with lots of garlic in it and a variety of vegetables to dunk in the pot with lots of french bread.

They had family fishing trips with extended family. We stayed in tents and usually went to Thousand Lake Mountain in Utah for about 3 or 4 days at a time. Mom and Dad really liked to fish and we always had a big fish fry before returning home and there was always a cold watermelon in the stream for dessert. Later in life Mom loved to fish at Scofield Reservoir. Mom, Dad and Mary would spend many days up their fishing and even later Mary and Mom frequented Schofield for a day at the lake catching fish to fry.

After Dad passed away in 1979, she was very lonely. She lived for twenty-four years without her companion. She remained in her home in Kenilworth close to her friends. The last several years she had some severe health concerns and was not able to live by herself. She moved to Salt Lake with her daughter and family and was able to make some visits to Texas to see her son and family. Through her illnesses, she always kept busy doing some type of handiwork – mostly crochet. She loved to make afghan blankets and made them for everyone in the family and for friends too. It kept her busy all day long. She was happy as long as she had a crochet hook and some yarn in her hands.

Mom did not have the easiest life however she was always loving and kind to everyone. She would never say a harsh word to anyone and would do what she could to help anyone. She was always happy and pleasant. She would cook and feed anyone in need and share whatever she had. She worked hard right along with Wesley doing whatever they needed to do. They took care of their son and daughter and gave them everything they needed to grow and take part in school and community activities.

Katie passed away Easter Sunday morning on April 20, 2003. Her viewing and funeral services were at the Mitchell’s Funeral Home in Price, Utah on April 25, 2003. Internment was at the Price Cemetery.

Wesley Leonard Bruce

Wesley Leonard Bruce was born to Thomas James and Mary Ann Baird Bruce on September 16, 1898 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was the youngest of six children (5 sons and 1 daughter). The family lived in Tennessee for many years raising their family. In 1902 they moved to Aguilar, Colorado. Thomas James (father) died in January 1903. On February 22, 1920 Wesley enlisted in the Navy and began a career in the service. He remained in the Navy for many years and deployed on a submarine much of that time. He was released from the service and moved to Carbon County living in Kenilworth, Utah and working in the boarding house as a cook. He met and married Katherine Savoni on June 28, 1938 in Price, Utah. They moved to Kenilworth and began their life together.

Wesley worked in the Kenilworth coal mine for many years until retirement. Soon after he was married Julio Savoni (brother-in-law) came to live with them. He lived with the family until 1960 when he got married (except while he was in the Navy).

Wesley and Katie had a son, Thomas James and a daughter, Judy. They lived and raised their family in a small home in Kenilworth, Utah. They were involved in community activities. His sister Amanda (Albert) Tittle lived in Kenilworth also and his mother referred to as Ma Bruce lived with her before her death.

Wesley worked for a time in the Kenilworth boarding house as a chef and gained many skills that he used throughout his life. He was a great cook and at deer season time would butcher and cut up many deer for friends and neighbors. He was then employed by the mine for many years in Kenilworth. He was the rope man in the mine and was given the nickname of Popeye. Everyone knew him and referred to him as Popeye. He was a happy and helpful person who care and helped anyone.

His son, TJ, married Gay Lambert of Price, UT and they had 3 children: Natalie, Todd and Kim. After many years in the Navy they settled in Texas. Judy married Jeff Judd of Price, UT and they had 4 children: Brett, Quinten, Brandy and Mitch and lived in the Salt Lake area. He enjoyed having grandchildren and spoiled and teased them.

Wesley was such a good cook. He would spend hours cleaning, breading and frying large amounts of shrimp for family and friends who would gather and enjoy them. Another specialty he liked to make was breaded and fried oysters. A couple of my favorite dishes that he made was chicken-al-la-king and breaded veal cutlets. He and Katie would work all day on a large electric roaster full of chow mein for a house full of neighbors and family.

He was an avid deer hunter and fisherman who enjoyed the out of doors. Most of the family vacations were spent on trips in the boulder mountains where he could fish the streams and lakes and at the end of the trip he would fry lots of the fish up for a celebration dinner. Trips with The Listellos and Pappas families were great fun. Every year all the men and older boys would go on an annual deer hunt and in 1963 or 1964 they rushed Dad out of the mountains to the hospital because of a major heart attack. He spent some time in the hospital recovering. He retired a short time later but always continued to keep up the house and the yard. His yard was so important to him and it always was beautiful. The lawn was well maintained and his rose garden was neat and tidy. In later years, he developed an allergy to the sun so in the hottest days you would find him with a long-sleeved shirt and a big sombrero hat working in the yard. Most of his outside work was done in the early mornings or in the evenings. In 1970 Katie started a full-time job working outside the home so Wesley was home all day taking care of the home inside and out and did many things that made it easier for his wife. Many evenings you could find him at home with Katie and Mary Listello enjoying dinner and a hand of cards. The trio could be spotted at Scofield on the beach fishing for trout. They enjoyed being outdoors and being together. He took care of them both.

In April of 1979, Wesley and Katie traveled to Salt Lake to visit their daughter and son-in-law and family. He had another massive heart attack and was taken to the hospital where he passed away a few days later. His funeral and burial was in Price, UT.

Family:

George Bruce was born November 16, 1886 in Tennessee and died 1958 (72) in Denver, Colorado

Andrew Bruce was born on June 10,1888 and Died on April 8, 1889 (1).

Alex Donovan was born on June 2, 1890 in Helenwood Tennessee and Died in 1917 (27).

Johnny Bruce was born January 5, 1892 and died August 27, 1905 in Las Animas, Colorado (13).

Amanda May Bruce Tittle was born on March 21, 1895 in Jellico, Tennessee and died July 27, 1986 in Aguilar, Colorado (91)

Wesley Leonard Bruce was born on September 16, 1898 in Knoxville, Tennessee and died April 11, 1979 in Salt Lake City, Utah (80).