Obituary for Shirley Louise Bridges
Shirley Louise Bridges was born on October 6, 1939, the only child of Lester Roy “Runt” Bridges and Mildred Lucille “Lucy” (McDaniel) Bridges in Hearne, Texas. She died on January 16, 2021 in Luling, Texas.
Her father worked for Exxon Mobil and her family traveled where his job took him. She spent several years in Anahuac, Texas before moving to Luling. She graduated from Luling High School in 1958. She attended Business School in Austin to learn to become a bookkeeper. Doing so allowed her to partake in a career that spanned nearly 40 years. After working briefly in Shiner, she became the first official employee of the Edgar B. Davis Memorial Hospital in Luling in 1965. She initially worked at City Hall prior to the hospital’s completion. She served as their Director of Accounting until after the turn of the century. She then transitioned into another position as a Patient’s Advocate before retiring in 2003 as the facility’s longest serving employee. From there, she was a dedicated weekly volunteer until 2019, thus completing her 55 year association.
She was a member of the local Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for many years and enjoyed the fellowship and community service. She was also one of Luling’s most sought after bakers and was always happy to lend her support to a host of events and fundraisers. She was an avid reader and served on the Board of Directors for the Luling Public Library several years ago. She kept in close contact with many of her high school classmates and enjoyed attending their various reunions over the years, including her 60th in 2018. She looked forward to her (strictly regimented) Wednesday and Saturday morning breakfast gatherings at Meme’s with her friends and former co-workers. They will all miss her notorious and infectious laugh and razor sharp wit.
Shirley was a proud member of the First Baptist Church of Luling for almost her entire adult life. She was incredibly devoted to the people, services, events and missions of the church and one of its most faithful attendees for decades.
One of her greatest loves was the Luling Oil Museum. She served on their original Board of Directors and gave over 30 years in that capacity or as a volunteer. She helped with all aspects of the annual Roughneck Chili & BBQ Cook-Offs, Oil City Car Shows, Reflections of Texas Art Shows, Pancake Breakfasts and Volunteer Christmas Parties. She never passed up an opportunity to pitch in whenever and wherever she was needed. Many remember her as an ongoing fixture at the Museum’s Sign In Table. She always wanted to know where visitors were from and what brought them to Luling. She was a staunch supporter and cheerleader of all things Luling and her pride was obvious to anyone who knew her as well as those whom she had just met. She was truly a friend to all who crossed her path.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by distant cousins, her close friends Kenny and Mary Morgan and a multitude of wonderful close friends who provided companionship and care during the past few years.
The staff at Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is to be commended for their care and compassion during her time there as well as the nurses with Heart to Heart Hospice.
Memorials may be given to the Luling Oil Museum P.O. Box 1002 Luling, Texas 78648.
A Graveside service will be held at 2:00p.m. Monday, January 25th at the Luling City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the Direction of O’Bannon Funeral Home.
“Due to current CDC, State and local mandates, protective measures regarding social distancing, limited attendance capacity, and use of personal protective masks will be required for the visitation, chapel service and graveside burial rite. Services are under the care and direction of O'Bannon Funeral Home”
Her father worked for Exxon Mobil and her family traveled where his job took him. She spent several years in Anahuac, Texas before moving to Luling. She graduated from Luling High School in 1958. She attended Business School in Austin to learn to become a bookkeeper. Doing so allowed her to partake in a career that spanned nearly 40 years. After working briefly in Shiner, she became the first official employee of the Edgar B. Davis Memorial Hospital in Luling in 1965. She initially worked at City Hall prior to the hospital’s completion. She served as their Director of Accounting until after the turn of the century. She then transitioned into another position as a Patient’s Advocate before retiring in 2003 as the facility’s longest serving employee. From there, she was a dedicated weekly volunteer until 2019, thus completing her 55 year association.
She was a member of the local Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for many years and enjoyed the fellowship and community service. She was also one of Luling’s most sought after bakers and was always happy to lend her support to a host of events and fundraisers. She was an avid reader and served on the Board of Directors for the Luling Public Library several years ago. She kept in close contact with many of her high school classmates and enjoyed attending their various reunions over the years, including her 60th in 2018. She looked forward to her (strictly regimented) Wednesday and Saturday morning breakfast gatherings at Meme’s with her friends and former co-workers. They will all miss her notorious and infectious laugh and razor sharp wit.
Shirley was a proud member of the First Baptist Church of Luling for almost her entire adult life. She was incredibly devoted to the people, services, events and missions of the church and one of its most faithful attendees for decades.
One of her greatest loves was the Luling Oil Museum. She served on their original Board of Directors and gave over 30 years in that capacity or as a volunteer. She helped with all aspects of the annual Roughneck Chili & BBQ Cook-Offs, Oil City Car Shows, Reflections of Texas Art Shows, Pancake Breakfasts and Volunteer Christmas Parties. She never passed up an opportunity to pitch in whenever and wherever she was needed. Many remember her as an ongoing fixture at the Museum’s Sign In Table. She always wanted to know where visitors were from and what brought them to Luling. She was a staunch supporter and cheerleader of all things Luling and her pride was obvious to anyone who knew her as well as those whom she had just met. She was truly a friend to all who crossed her path.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by distant cousins, her close friends Kenny and Mary Morgan and a multitude of wonderful close friends who provided companionship and care during the past few years.
The staff at Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is to be commended for their care and compassion during her time there as well as the nurses with Heart to Heart Hospice.
Memorials may be given to the Luling Oil Museum P.O. Box 1002 Luling, Texas 78648.
A Graveside service will be held at 2:00p.m. Monday, January 25th at the Luling City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the Direction of O’Bannon Funeral Home.
“Due to current CDC, State and local mandates, protective measures regarding social distancing, limited attendance capacity, and use of personal protective masks will be required for the visitation, chapel service and graveside burial rite. Services are under the care and direction of O'Bannon Funeral Home”