Margaret Mary Bruner

Margaret Mary (Margie) Grimes Bruner, 63, of Dalton Georgia, passed away on January 16, 2025, surrounded by her family. Margie was known for her strength, bravery, and care for others.

Margie was born in 1961, the second child of five of James and Patricia Grimes, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. Her family moved often, and Margie attended numerous schools before graduating from Coral Springs High School, Coral Springs, Florida in 1979. After graduation, she went on to study at Auburn University, where she ran on the cross-country team and met the love of her life, Greg Bruner.

Margie married Greg Bruner in 1984 and moved to Belvidere, Tennessee before relocating to Dalton, Georgia, where they raised their three children. Their loving marriage was an example to many. They co-taught religious education together at St. Joseph Catholic Church where Margie served as the Director of Religious Education for several years. They ran countless 5k races as a family and always enjoyed hosting their friends, especially on Christmas Eve for their annual Happy Birthday Jesus party. Together they were devoted parents, and Margie attended every PTA meeting, game, race, and ballet recital possible. She was an attentive and caring mother not only to her own kids, but also to their friends.

Margie had a lifelong love of reading and learning.  She earned master’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. She spent her career helping others as a child psychologist, working for Dade County School District, Dalton Public Schools, and Murray County Public Schools.  She also taught psychology at Dalton State College and developed an orientation course required for all freshmen students to improve student retention and success rates.

Margie loved her family, friends, and running. She most enjoyed bringing them together. She coached cross-country and track at Dalton High School, shared running with adults by teaching continuous education programs at Dalton State College, started a youth running program for students at Roan Elementary School, was the first coach of the Dalton State College cross-country team, actively participated in the Carpet Capitol Running Club, and always welcomed a run with friends and family. As cross-country coach at Dalton State College, she led the team to back-to-back championships and was twice honored as coach of the year by the Southern States Athletic Conference. She ran dozens of marathons, including Boston, completed a 70.3 Ironman, and ran from Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim of the Grand Canyon in one day. She embraced life and enjoyed a challenge.

Through her involvement with schools, church, and coaching, Margie formed strong relationships throughout her life. She knew her friends well and was the source of advice and support to many. She had an open door and was surrounded by caring friends.  The strength of her relationships was seen in the love and care provided to her by her husband and community over the past ten years as she battled cancer.

Margie is survived by her husband Greg Bruner, children Megan Nickolai (nee Bruner), Andrew Bruner; and her grandchildren Sadie Rose Nickolai, Mary Margaret Nickolai, John Thomas Nickolai, Joanna Marie Bruner, Scarlett James Bruner, Winifred Marie Nickolai, and Frances Josephine Nickolai; and her siblings Kathleen Chau (nee Grimes), Denis Grimes, James Grimes, and John Grimes. She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Patricia Grimes, and her son, John Bruner.

Visitation will be at Love Funeral Home from 5-8PM on Sunday, January 19th and the funeral mass will be at 1PM on Monday, January 20th, at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dalton, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dalton Education Foundation:

https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/John-Bruner-Memorial-Scholarship/Sdx2Lkq?mip=Mch8