Bruce MacPhee

Bruce Allan MacPhee, 59, of Hot Springs, died unexpectedly on January 24, 2013. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 11, 1953, to Charles Allan and Jean Campbell MacPhee, he grew up in Hot Springs. Bruce was a 1971 graduate of Lakeside High School and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was a member of the Arkansas Law Review. Bruce became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America on Jan. 27, 1976. Licensed to practice law in 1978, he was a founder of Cox & MacPhee (later known as Henry, Cox & MacPhee) in Hot Springs, and also served as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Garland County before joining Weyerhaeuser Company in 1993 as Corporate Counsel. At the time of his death, Bruce was Senior Legal Counsel–South for Weyerhaeuser. He is survived by his wife, the former Leah May of Hot Springs, a daughter, Margaret “Maggie” Holt (Dr. Jeff Holt) of Little Rock, a son, Walter John MacPhee of Hot Springs, a sister, Heather MacPhee Niday (Chuck) of Arbovale, West Virginia, a brother, David MacPhee (Liliana), of Little Rock, and his parents. Bruce was a loving husband and father, as well as being devoted to his family and friends. He was known for his many commitments to Hot Springs. He served on the Downtown Historic District Board, Hot Springs Family YMCA Board, Lakeside Alumni Association Board where he served as President, and the Screening Committee of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. He was recently recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Garland County Habitat for Humanity after preparing the closing documents of all 100 of the Habitat houses built in Garland County over the past 15 years. He loved to travel, paddle white water rivers, hike, cycle, golf, read, cook, and spend time with family and friends. Bruce was a former member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where he served two terms on the Vestry and as Senior Warden. Bruce had in recent years attended Lake Valley Community Church. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hot Springs, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Memorial gifts may be made to Habitat for Humanity and Garland County Library.