A Celebration of Life for Carol Bruce, age 78, of Orchard will be held from 11 to 2 pm on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Rex Theater in Orchard. Burial will be at a later date in the Orchard Hill Cemetery.  Carol passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 22, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Center in Atkinson.  Memorials may be directed to her family for future designation.

Carol Jean McDermott was born on December 27, 1946, in Norfolk, Nebraska. She was adopted by Gerald and Veral McDermott and attended St. Mary's School in O'Neill.

Carol married Jack Bumgardner, and together they had four children: Rebecca, Roberta (Bobbie), Byron, and Brenda Bumgardner. She later married Billy Jack (BJ) Darcy. Carol and BJ spent years trucking back and forth between Nebraska and California before eventually settling in Oildale, California. Later, they chose to return to Nebraska.

After BJ's passing, Carol moved to Orchard, Nebraska. She worked at IMAC and bartended at the Orchard Bar. It was there that she met her soulmate, Richard Bruce. Together, they shared a love for travel, Nebraska football, golfing, darts, and most of all, each other.

Following years of declining health, Carol entered Good Samaritan Nursing Home for hospice care.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Brenda L. Harrison of Orchard; three grandsons, Dakota (Whitney) Sawyer of Yankton, Tanner Sawyer of Norfolk, and Ty (Taylar) Sawyer in Rapid City; and great-grandchildren Beckett, Everly, and Graycelynn Sawyer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Veral McDermott; a stillborn baby; her daughters Rebecca Bumgardner, Roberta Bumgardner her son Byron Bumgardner, her husband, Billy Jack Darcy; and her husband, Richard Bruce.