Obituary of Blelve Leon Bridges

Funeral services for Blelve Leon Bridges, 76, Overton will be Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home chapel  with  Reverend Atwell Hankins, Bishop Mike Peterson and Honorable Reverend Dean Peterson officiating. Graveside services will be at 4:00 pm at Purley Cemetery,  near Mt. Vernon .

Mr. Bridges, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in Tyler with his family at his side. He was born January 1, 1943 in Mt. Vernon to the late James Leon and Zoe Dean Peterson Bridges and attended Overton High School, Kilgore College and Stephen F. Austin University. His love of business led him to own and operate Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store in Fairfield, as well as several convenience stores in the Tri County area known to many as Jif-E-Mart and Pronto’s.

Blelve can be remembered as someone who supported the youth and many youth activities from coaching little league and sponsoring their teams to 4-H projects and encouraging their developments. He also served on many town committees as well as serving as Mayor of Teague, City Councilman and he was a member of the Rotary Club for many years.  He later settled back to his hometown of Overton with his friend and wife, Glyna Ballard Bridges until his death.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James Leon and Zoe Bridges and sister Alice Kay Bridges Roska.

Survivors include his wife, Glyna Ballard Bridges of Overton; a brother-in-law, Chris Roska and niece Jessica Roska, brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law,  Elmer & Patti Ballard, Billy & Sue Ballard, Melvin & Lillian Ballard, Susian & Herb Shaw, & Slinda & Mickey Childres; and many more nieces, nephews; great-nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Chris Roska, Jay Shaw, Jim Shaw, Richard Ross, Josh Kerzee, Ray Garrett, Casey Story and James Light.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jeremy Ballard, Jayme Ballard, Phillip Ballard, Ethan Ballard and Luke Sams.