Obituary for Bruce Smith

Ponca City Now - February 18, 2021 5:52 pm

Bruce Alan Smith

April 26, 1958 ~ February 14, 2021 (age 62)

Bruce Alan Smith passed away on February 14, 2021 in Ponca City, OK at the age of 62. He was born to Calvin and Mary Anne (Fahs) Smith on April 26, 1958 also in Ponca City, OK.

Bruce lived in the Ponca City area, attending Ponca City Public Schools until he was 14 years old. At that time, the family moved to Florida. Bruce graduated from Maynard Evans High School in 1976. He returned home to the Ponca City area in the early 1990’s, where he lived out the rest of his days. In 2003 Bruce married Melissa Kiley in the Kay County Court House. They were able to share 14 years together before she passed on August 16, 2017.

Bruce was an avid motorcycle rider and buyer. He enjoyed buying and building them the way he wanted. Through a lot of years of dedication, Bruce earned his 4th Degree Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do. He excelled in martial arts weaponry skills. He could throw throwing stars and hit what he was aiming at from any angle as well as being versed with num-chuks.

He was a traditional Ponca Man, strong in his American Indian Faith. Bruce was fluent in his native Ponca language. He shared the knowledge of this language with other members in the tribe. Melissa and Bruce got involved with the Native American beading and enjoyed many hours creating beautiful pieces.

Left to cherish Bruce’s memory are his children, to include, his first born son, Calvin and his wife Kristina Smith of Vista, CA, Sanya Smith of St Paul, IN, Athena and her husband Connor Kiley-Henness of Ponca City, OK, Elaina Maria Smith of Ponca City, and Alyssa Ann Smith also of Ponca City, grandchildren, Kennedy, Gavin, Kendall, Meleah, M’ryah, Michael Edward Henness, step-grandchildren, Olivia and Gavin, siblings, Mark Smith of Phoenix, Peggy Sue Smith of Ponca City, Stan Smith of Muskogee and half-brother, Steve Fields.

Bruce is preceded in death by two children that passed in infancy, April and Zacharia, parents, Calvin and Mary Anne, paternal grandparents, Zachariah and Esther (Bearsear) Smith, maternal grandparents, Jack and Bernice Fahs.

Services will be held for Bruce at the Ponca Indian Cultural Center starting Thursday, February 18, 2021. Family and friends will be able to visit starting at 3pm with the wake starting Thursday Evening at 7pm. On Friday, February 19, 2021, Bruce’s Funeral Service will begin at 1:30pm. At the conclusion of the service Bruce will be laid to rest with his people at the Ponca Tribal Cemetery.

Messages may be left for the family online at www.gracememorialchapel.net.