Obituary of Bruce Donald McKenzie

McKenzie, Bruce Donald of St. Petersburg passed away unexpectedly at home on January 4, 2013. Bruce was born on August 2, 1943 in Tampa, Florida. He leaves behind his wife Gail of thirty years, and a step-daughter Patty Tydings. Bruce also leaves behind a sister Janice and her husband Mike Moki of Atlanta, GA, and a brother Robert McKenzie and his wife Cecelia of Austin, Texas. He also leaves behind three nephews and one niece. His parents James McKenzie and Charlotte Javorski McKenzie preceded him in death. Bruce also leaves behind an extended family who "adopted" him when he married their sister: Faye and Joe Cella of Huntington, PA, Donna Hamilton, Huntingdon, Frank and Nancy Harper of Mapleton Depot, PA, Barry Harper, Mapleton, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bruce graduated from Plant High School in Tampa, attended the University of South Florida and graduated from St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg. Bruce served 4 years in the US Air Force. He finished his forty year working career at ATK Defense Plant in Pinellas Park. Over the years he also worked for Hercules Defense Electronics Systems, Inc., Sperry and Honeywell, Inc. Bruce loved traveling to Pennsylvania and attending the Amish Auction on Wednesday. He took wonderful pictures of the Amish Countryside. Bruce also traveled to Myrtle Beach for one week in September and joined the PA Family for a week of rest and relaxation (don't forget the food). Bruce and Gail were "Carnival Cruisers". He has seventeen cruises to his credit with two transatlantic cruises and many, many wonderful ports of call along the way since 2003. Bruce was an amateur photographer, astronomer, and loved the USF Bulls football team. Bruce was a gentle giant of a man who had a smile for everyone including all the people he worked with. He will be greatly missed. A-Life Tribute, Gulfport, FL.