Bruce "Gato" Merriman

James Bruce Merriman—son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend, coach, storyteller, cook, jester, monk, wizard—has shapeshifted once more. On March 18, 2022 Bruce left this lifetime just before sunrise, riding the wings of the last full moon of the winter equinox.

Bruce was the oldest of four children, born to Harry Ernest Merriman and Helen Louise Merriman on June 24, 1949 in Colby, Kansas. Growing up in small-town Humboldt and Fredonia, Kansas, early life was churning homemade vanilla ice cream on the back porch, dreams of running away with Gypsy caravans, climbing pear trees, casting lines in fishing holes, catching fireflies, and chasing balsa wood airplanes that took mysterious detours on the way to school. Bruce lost his mother Helen at the age of 9—a loss that deeply shaped his spirit and compassion for life. He was fortunate to have the loving support of his father, grandmother Mae Hughes, and later his stepmother Francis Merriman.

Bruce, nicknamed “Cat” and later “Grandpa Gato,” certainly lived nine lives or more. As his wife Jan always said, “the only thing consistent about Bruce is change.” He was a golf pro; a traveling salesman; the creator of a family & friend-run amusement park; a writer; a golf, basketball, football, and soccer coach; a master chef (but only for friends and family); a gardener; and a stay-at-home dad. Unlike most grown-ups who forget to see things through curious eyes, Bruce’s wonder and mischief only grew with age. When Heath, Brian, and Kim were kids, the highlight of their Minnesota neighborhood was “lightning mountain”—a twisting luge track over picnic tables and between trees that Bruce made over the course of weeks, icing down the track with the garden hose. Everyone who ever stepped into Bruce and Jan’s house would encounter magical themed bars on back patios that he would recreate every year from recycled objects and a disregard for the laws of gravity. And just this past Christmas, Bruce/Grandpa Gato created a psychedelic winter wonderland display for his grandkids—think surrealism meets laser lights, glow in the dark paint, and lots of aluminum foil.

Bruce’s life can’t be captured by a traditional list of accomplishments—his love for change prevented him from fully finishing most of what he started. And it can’t be captured chronologically—he lived and moved outside of linear time. His life and spirit may be best captured by the way he gave us a glimpse into the in-between. He saw things most others couldn’t or didn’t want to see. His version of reality—while questionable by most measures—often captured a deeper sort of truth and possibility, one that inspired people to take chances, reinvent themselves, and see the world in a different light.

Bruce’s spirit carries on through his wife Jan; children Heath (Brooke), Brian (Stormy), Kim, and Dani (Nico); grandchildren Gwynn, Rylan, and Manu; siblings Craig (Jan), Jan (Scott), and Cindy (Bruce); mother Francis; and the many extended family and friends that have crossed his path.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 25, 2022. To honor Bruce’s love of coaching girls’ sports and supporting live music, the family wishes any memorial donations to be made to:

LPGA Girls Golf through the link below or if by check to LPGA Foundation, Attn: Fernando Carrasquillo, 100 International Golf Dr., Daytona Beach, FL 32124.  Please indicate in memory of Bruce Merriman so the donations are used for their Colorado Springs girls’ golf program.

Black Rose Acoustic Society through the link below or if by check to The Black Rose Acoustic Society, P.O. Box 50165, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80949.