Bruce K Carter

Funeral Recording - https://audio.funeralrecording.com/embed/11e1467e-ab66-11ee-b8f9-0a0a8901036b

Bruce K Carter, our dear husband, father, and grandfather, passed away suddenly on Christmas Eve while singing Christmas carols with his family.  He was born almost 85 years ago on a snowy winter day to Wayne and Ida Carter in Brigham City, Utah.  His brother Karl quickly followed 16 months later.  Bruce’s legacy is one of learning and teaching, service to family and community, music, and excellence in every pursuit.

In 1940, the Carter family moved to Los Angeles in search of work opportunities in the booming Aerospace industry. Bruce’s father was intelligent and mechanically gifted and imparted those gifts to Bruce.  These skills of project precision and custom engineering heavily influenced Bruce and his subsequent posterity.  With Bruce and Karl’s photogenic faces and dashing good looks, Ida took opportunities to take them to the nearby movie studios in the hopes of achieving stardom.  Tragedy struck the young Carter family when Karl fatally contracted polio before the development of the Polio Vaccine.  Bruce was eight years old at the time.  We find joy in imagining their happy reunion. 

Bruce graduated from Culver City High in 1956, and started working and going to school until he received a mission call to the East Central States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  After his service, he returned home and enrolled at UCLA for his college degree . . . that is, until he met Jackie Putman at a church dance in the summer of 1961.  He changed his plans and followed her to Brigham Young University where he convinced her to marry him.  They were married in the Los Angeles Temple in August 1962.  They are parents to seven children, 23 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  They love their large family. 

Bruce finished his studies at BYU with a Master’s Degree in Education, preparing him to teach high school physics.  Bruce and Jackie moved back to California with two small children where Bruce had landed a job teaching at Westminster High School.  Twelve months later, Bruce took a higher paying teaching position at Tustin High School.  He moved the family to Tustin, bought their “forever home,” and built a life for themselves and their family in that community for the next 40 years.   

In 1980, Bruce transitioned from a career in education to aerospace engineering for Hughes Aircraft, retiring in 1997.  His passion for teaching took him back to education where he taught physics for 8 more years until he “finally” retired.  During this second stint in education, he also coached the high school boys’ golf team.  He became a regular at the Tustin Ranch golf course, where he later worked as a marshall.  His job there gave him the best kind of benefit - free golf.

Bruce also spent time moonlighting as a high school basketball referee.  His extensive knowledge of basketball rules and regulations made him an excellent at-home commentator for many years of televised professional and college games.  He never missed a call, even when the referees at the games seemed to.  He was a lifelong Los Angeles sports fan, cheering and commentating at home on Rams football, Laker basketball and Dodger baseball.  

Bruce and Jackie moved to Cottonwood Heights, Utah in 2013 to be closer to many of their children.  They have enjoyed the closer proximity to much of their family and developed wonderful friendships. 

Bruce loved and cherished his family.   Always the teacher, he took every opportunity to teach his children, encouraging them to achieve in their education and professions, and to teach others in his circle of influence. Many cherished family memories took place on a lake with him driving the boat to pull the water skiers.  He supported his children in their athletic and musical activities, attending games and recitals whenever they happened.  This support also continued with his grandchildren as he happily attended their games, shows, and musical performances. 

Bruce loved music.  Musical talent started to show at the early age of three when he began harmonizing while singing in Primary. Bruce took voice lessons and became a highly accomplished and versatile singer.  He enjoyed participating in barbershop groups and church and community musicals, with the highlight of playing the role of Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof.  He filled his life and home with music through singing, arranging music, and playing the piano. His last day on earth was spent enjoying the Christmas program he organized for the ward’s Sacrament meeting while serving as the ward music chairman. He and Jackie made sure that their children also developed their musical talents.  

Bruce had a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He had a strong desire to make correct decisions and taught his family to do the same. He was extremely conscientious and took all of his responsibilities very seriously.  His knowledge of the scriptures, along with his ability to recall passages and link them together, made him an excellent gospel instructor.  He served in many instructional callings from seminary teacher to Sunday School and quorum teacher.  Bruce also served in many other callings, a favorite being a temple worker.  

Bruce is survived by his wife Jackie, his seven children and their spouses; Jim (Ursula), Robin (Eric), Laura (Brian), Jennifer (Alan), Michael (Brooke), David (Marianne) and Steven (Nancy), his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

A viewing will be held Friday, December 29, 2023 from 6-8 pm at Cannon Mortuary, 2460 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121.  A private family funeral service will be held at a later time.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Philanthropies https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/

We will always remember Bruce’s lessons taught, witty banter shared, support and love given, and hope to “go and do likewise.”  Bruce’s family extends their love and heart-felt thanks to those medical providers who gave us all as many years with Bruce as possible.