Larry Bridges

1936 - 2021

Brownwood- Frazier Lawrence "Larry" Bridges Jr., age 84, professional artist, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, January 8, 2021, at his home. Larry was born September 14, 1936, to Frazier L. and Mabel (Tate) Bridges in Dallas, Texas.

Graveside Services for Larry will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2021, at the Granbury Cemetery in Granbury, with Don Walden officiating; visitation will be held prior to the graveside from 9 to 11 a.m. at Blaylock Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood.

Larry graduated from Lubbock High School in 1954, where he played cornet in the band and also played tennis. After high school he joined the Navy Reserves from 1954 to 1962 while attending college at Texas Tech University. He majored in Advertising Art & Design and was a member of the Tech Advertising Club, Alpha Delta Sigma Fraternity, and was Advertising Manager for the university newspaper. After college, he opened his own advertising agency and print shop, Production Art and Advertising. He also worked for various department stores in advertising including Hemphill-Wells.

He worked for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper for 19 years as an Advertising Account Executive where he was well-versed in fashion and commercial advertising and was a top salesman.

In 1985, Larry began showing his work as a full-time artist and received many First Place and Best of Show awards. He was at one time a member of the Texas Wild Bunch Professional Artists Association, an elite group of Texas full-time professional artists, and his art was displayed at invitation-only shows, galleries, museums, and fine art festivals. His beautiful, highly detailed pen and ink drawings were admired by many for realistically capturing nostalgic subjects, landmarks, and period settings. He was well-known in Texas for his college, as well as his courthouse drawings. He was especially proud that several of his original drawings of the University hung in the Board of Regents Hall and other departments at Texas Tech University, his beloved alma mater.

Larry married the love of his life, Sharon Walden, on November 19, 1988. For more than thirty years, he and Sharon owned and managed his art business, traveling together to show his work at many fine art shows including the Denton Jazz Festival, as well as the State Fair of Texas, major rodeos (San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Houston), and many others. They were avid members of the Wally Byam Airstream Club for years and made many friends through their travels.

Larry was well-known by his family and many friends as a kind, humble man who loved the Lord with all of his heart. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always met friends and strangers with a warm smile. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He loved his children dearly and they were in his thoughts daily.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sharon; his children: Karen Richardson, Mary Tim Meeks and husband Tom, Barbara Deason, and Philip Bridges; grandchildren: Shawn Meeks and wife Sara, Lauren Wood and husband Kenny, Crystal Meeks, Bradley Bridges, Sarah Bridges, Jaryd Richardson, and Jenée Richardson; great-grandchildren: Abel Meeks, Roman Meeks, Delilah Meeks, and Alexis Wood; and godchild, Victoria Wiese.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Frazier and Mabel (Tate) Bridges; and sister, Juanita Stanovsky.

Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.