Helen Sareita Bruce

Helen Sareita Bruce, 83, died on December 28, 2016 in Lubbock, Texas. Family visitation will be Friday, December 30, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Graveside services will be Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Elmwood Memorial Park with Dr. Phillip Christopher officiating. Mrs. Bruce had lived in Abilene since 1945, moving here with her family from Haskell, where she was born on March 15, 1933. Her parents were Lewis Porter Williams and Edith Mae Scott. She was retired from the Texas Lottery Commission having worked for the state agency since its inception until she retired in 2002. She was among the first group of employees hired to staff the statewide operation when it was organized by then-State Comptroller John Sharp in 1992. She was a member of First Baptist Church and Adult II Sunday School Class. She also was a volunteer in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), had been active in PTA at Jane Long Elementary School, and was an avid reader and crossword puzzle enthusiast. Mrs. Bruce was a 1951 graduate of Abilene High School and attended Draughon's Business College, training for a career as a bookkeeper. Afterward, she worked for several Abilene business firms, including National Biscuit Co., the Abilene Reporter-News, Sunshine Biscuit Co., and Willis Pool and Chemical. She married her husband, Bob T. Bruce, on February 6, 1960. They met while employees at the Reporter-News, Helen as a bookkeeper and Bob as a reporter. They were introduced by the custodian at the newspaper, the late Earl Jones. Mrs. Bruce was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and two brothers, David L. "Jack" Williams of San Angelo, and Drayton Williams, who died as an infant. Mrs. Bruce is survived by her son, Robert Gregory Bruce of Lubbock; a son-in-law, Jimmy Castillo of Lubbock; one sister, Lavernne Williams of Abilene; a grandson, Michael Castillo and his wife Devyn of Lubbock; and two great-grandchildren, Jaidon R. Castillo and Lily Castillo, also of Lubbock. Pallbearers will be: Michael Castillo, Jaidon Castillo, Scott Williams, Jamie O'Roarke, Aaron Nutt, Brady Walker, Nathan Nutt and Roy A. Jones, II.