Davis Clayton Bruce

Davis Clayton Bruce 10/11/1946- 10/29/2025

Fortified with the sacraments of The Holy Mother Church , died at Barnes Jewish Hospital after a sudden cardiac event.

Davis was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Darwin Bruce and Eileen Clayton Bruce who both preceded him in death.

He was the beloved spouse of Linda Ciralli Bruce, brother of Lesley Ann Hughes ( John) of Farmington, and Patti Bruce Crowley (Mark) of Haslet, Texas. Proud father of Davis Clayton Bruce Jr. of Boston, MA , Jennifer Bruce of Hingham, MA and Brandon Challies (Jennifer) of Methuen, MA. Loving grandfather of Carlos and Addie. Cherished uncle of Amy Martin Barrett, Saint Louis, Scott Martin of Farmington , and Michael Martin (Rebecca) of New Jersey .

Davis left high school at age 16 and joined the USMC one week prior to his 17th birthday. He completed a GED and Marines instantly recognized his potential and made him PFC Bruce and platoon leader three weeks into boot camp at Parris Island. USMC then sent him on to Camp Lejeune where he left as Lance Corporal Bruce and after being vetted for top secret clearance rating, began studies at an intensive language program run by US Navy Intelligence. He soon became proficient in Spanish including several regional dialects across the globe. The Marines had discovered that Davis had a type of "photographic memory" for numbers sequences and codes. His next assignment was under Naval Intelligence at Sebana Seca Puerto Rico where he would simultaneously decode and translate incoming data. He was then 19 years old when he was made Sergeant Davis Bruce. After four years of excellent service in the USMC, he returned to civilian life in Boston where he worked full time nights as a security guard and attended Suffolk University during the day. It took several years yet he earned a degree in Philosophy. It was then he decided to pursue a law degree, took the LSAT , applied to New England School of Law and three years later graduated with his JD at the top of his class. Nobody was surprised. After a period of time as a public defender and then Assistant DA in the Boston Criminal Courts , he applied to the USAF and was sworn in as Captain Davis Bruce, JAG officer, Sheppard AFB in Texas. He quickly became a lead prosecutor in court martials , never losing a single case in two years. Again, he returned to civilian life in Boston where he found his niche in Criminal Defense Attorney for the next forty years. It did not take long before he had earned a reputation as a truly remarkably talented defense attorney. Davis was asked to join a NYC defense attorney on a widely publicized case involving a Marine . He was interviewed several times as the case progressed by CNN journalists and reporters for the Boston Globe. He was often a consultant on nationally known criminal cases in NYC and New England states. Eventually, he began to be known as "The Magician" by his peers in Boston's criminal courts. Often, court officers would reserve the last two rows in the court for all the attorneys who would always be there when Davis had a trial just to listen to his opening and closing statements and of course to hear the jury's verdict. Although he did not always win a case for his client, he seldom lost. After decades in Boston Criminal Courts he retired, He and Linda moved to Farmington to be closer to his sister and her family as well as to enjoy a smaller community. He joined the Missouri Bar and was accepted by the 24th District Court as Attorney for the Juvenile Office where he served for five years doing what he loved best. He retired again and was then asked if he might do just one more thing. He accepted his new position of GAL ( Guardian Ad Litem) where he was a stalwart protector of all children involved in court proceedings. Davis saw this, his last service, as his most gratifying; to be the Legal voice of protection for society's most vulnerable innocents. After 49 years of devoting all he had to the practice of LAW, serving many hundreds of people in and out of the courtrooms he will be remembered for more than a little while.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 10 North Long Street, Farmington, MO with Father John Schneider as celebrant. Interment will be private and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name would be welcomed to: Tunnels To Towers Foundation, 2361 Hyland Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or Monarch Family Resource Center, 1565 Ste. Genevieve, Avenue, Farmington, 63640. Share your condolences at cozeanfuneralhome.com