Bruce Batten Denney

Bruce Batten Denney, a longtime pianist, music teacher and choirmaster, died Saturday, May 24, 2014, at the age of 92 in the Palliative Care Unit of Peachtree Hospice in Sparks Regional Medical Center, Fort Smith. He was born May 14, 1922, in Fayetteville, Ark., to the late Bruce Jasper Lawrence Denney and Eva Batten Denney. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Emma LaVonne Comstock of Springdale, Ark., Mary Elizabeth Hoffmann Heckman of St. Louis, Mo., Eva Jo Browne of Dallas, Texas; and a brother, Richard Allison Denney of Fayetteville, Ark. Survivors include his niece and caregiver, Mary Jane Comstock of Rogers, Ark.; nieces, Linda Otstott of San Antonio, Texas, Jean Browne of Yonkers, N.Y., Evanne Browne of Boulder, Colo.; nephews, Kenney Comstock of Rogers, Ark., Gary Comstock of Bartlesville, Okla., David Hoffmann of St. Louis, Mo.. Dennis Hoffmann of Dallas, Texas; great-nieces and -nephews. Bruce was a veteran who served in the United States Navy where he was a music arranger for the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. He and his sisters loved dancing and singing and entertained with their band "Three Belles and a Bow" at Myrtle Beach. He was the pianist-composer for the Boys Club of New York, organist-choirmaster for St. Stephen Episcopal Church in the Bronx, N.Y., Our Lady of Fatima Church in Long Island, N.Y., and the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Ill. He graduated from Fayetteville High School and earned his bachelor's degree and master's of music degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. During retirement, his beautiful piano playing at the Bella Vista Country Club and other venues was enjoyed by many. He taught piano, organ, theory, composition, voice, solfeggio, Gregorian chant and jazz improvisation. As recently as this year he played his piano four hours a day. A brilliant pianist and mind until the end, his charm and wit will be missed. A family graveside service will be held with burial at Evergreen Cemetery, Fayetteville, Ark.