James Bridges

James Andrew Bridges, 80, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Mansfield.
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of Mansfield, 777 N. Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield. Interment: 2:30 p.m. in Itasca Cemetery in Itasca. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Skyvue Funeral Home, 7220 Rendon Bloodworth Road, Mansfield.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1200 Clover Hill, Mansfield, or Dan Hart/Jim Bridges Scholarship fund at Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, Texas 76105.
Jim Bridges was born Dec. 21, 1931, in Cleburne to Oliver and Ollie May Bridges. He graduated from Cleburne High School in 1949. He attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth and graduated in 1954. It was there that he met and fell in love with the love of his life, wife and business partner, Mary Helen Wakefield. Three children were born to this union. Together they founded Jim Bridges Sporting Goods and together owned and ran for 30 years. In addition, to the sporting goods business, he also owned and helped run Forest Hill Swim Club in Forest Hills. After retiring they loved to travel to their lake house on Lake Whitney and their annual vacation to Lake City, Colo. Jim loved to fly fish, garden and can tomatoes and black-eyed peas and pick and shell pecans. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life.
The family would like to thank Community Hospice of Fort Worth and Lyn Ritchie for their love and care during his final day.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen Bridges; and grandson, Andy.
Survivors: Children, Marshall Bridges and wife, Melinda, Monty Bridges and Melissa Smith, all of Mansfield; grandchildren, Jimmy Bridges and wife, Morgan, Neal Bridges and wife, Lizz, Mary Lee Stagner and husband, Eric, Kathleen England and husband, Ernie England, Blake Bridges and wife, Clarissa, Stephanie Woods and husband, William, Stacia Lucas and husband, John, and James Smith; great-grandchildren, Derrick and Bryson Nipp, Brendan and Landon Woods, Katelyn and Jake Bridges, Dylan, Brionna, Bailey and Draydon Bridges, Elizabeth Bridges and Hunter England, Andy Stagner; sisters, Barbara Jones of Cleburne and husband, Ted, and Sara Inmon of Fort Worth; and many loved nieces and nephews.