Country songwriter Patsy Bruce, who co-wrote the Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings hit "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," died on Sunday, May 16 at age 81.
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Bruce co-wrote the outlaw country classic with her then husband, Ed Bruce, who had a top 20 hit with the song in 1975. The song hit No. 1 when Jennings and Nelson recorded it for their duet album Waylon & Willie.
Patsy and Ed Bruce, whom Patsy divorced in 1987, also co-wrote "(Texas) When I Die," a hit for Tanya Tucker, with songwriter Bobby Borchers.
In addition to her songwriting career, Patsy Bruce served as president of the Nashville Songwriters Association International in the '70s and '80s and worked as a casting director for the television show Maverick and the smash hit movie Urban Cowboy.
Patsy Bruce also served on the Tennessee state parole board, reviewing criminal cases such as that of John A. Brown, who was one of two men convicted in the murders of Grand Ole Opry star David "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife.
Patsy Bruce also operated event management and marketing companies, such as Events Unlimited and Songbird Tours, a Nashville bus tour.
Bruce is survived by her partner Jim Trout, daughters Ginny Bruce and AnnMarie Bruce Pinhal and son Trey, who's written songs for Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Diamond Rio and more.
