Bruce Thomas Hatley
Bruce Thomas Hatley passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025, in his home at Sherbrooke Community Centre, Veterans Village, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was 99 years of age.
Born in 1926, Bruce was raised on the family farm near Central Butte, Saskatchewan. In 1943, at age 17, Bruce enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, completed his training as a Wireless Electrical Mechanic, and served on 12 military bases from BC to Nova Scotia. In 1946, he returned to the family farm and in 1947 married Shirley Halladay. They started a family while Bruce worked as an electrician and home builder in southeastern Saskatchewan until 1955, when Bruce re-enlisted as a RCAF Communication Technician.
Bruce and Shirl raised their four children while being stationed in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and the last eleven years in Moose Jaw, SK, where Bruce retired as a Sargent in 1975. He then worked for over a decade as an Instructor of Electrical Construction at Saskatchewan Technical Institute in Moose Jaw and enjoyed life with Shirl in their new house, garden and cottage at Buffalo Pound Lake. After Bruce fully retired in 1987, they also enjoyed winters in the southern USA.
Intrigued by all things mechanical and electrical, Bruce enthusiastically designed and crafted his own well-made and fit-for-purpose equipment, including: two beautiful recreational trailers, air conditioners, garage door openers and a solar heated water system. He also loved cars — wheeling and dealing on new models and repairing used cars to good working condition.
Bruce and Shirl made the best of life — hosting parties and weekend stay overs for family and lifetime friends from across Canada and beyond. Widowed in 2006, Bruce continued to socialize daily with friends and neighbours at Athabasca Towers, relished time with his family, delighted in trips across Canada and abroad, and cheered on his Toronto Blue Jays.
Bruce had a lifelong sense of duty and family. To his last day, he would muster the strength for a visit or a phone call in order to reconnect, share a laugh and say, “I love you, dear”.
In 2019, Bruce was honoured with a 50th Year of Service Award by the Royal Canadian Legion. He was the Moose Jaw Branch House Chairman for 14 years and served in the Colour Party for 34 years and well into his 90s.
Bruce is lovingly remembered by his daughters Connie (Gord) Gault and Joanne (Stan) Lyons, his son Chris Hatley (Lindy Cowan), eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
He is predeceased by his wife Shirley Hatley (née Halladay), son Dan Hatley, parents Herbert and Mabel Hatley (subsequently married to Edward Gregory), sisters Beatrice Leslie and Laura Evans, and brothers Jim and Austen Hatley.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on May 10, 2025, at W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home, 474 Hochelaga Street West, Moose Jaw, SK. Bruce will be laid to rest at Rosedale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion National Foundation https:// lnfcanada.ca/get-involved/donate/ to support veterans and their families.
In living memory of Bruce, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries). Dayna Chamberlain – Funeral Director.
