Obituaries: Bridges, Bailey, Coulter

Cotton Bridges, 84, Aug. 11 in Frisco. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, he was a bank executive until 1981, when he felt called to use his talents at First Baptist Church in Abilene’s Family Life Center. His church service began earlier, while he was a member at Calvary Baptist Church in Abilene. Cotton BridgesIn 1960, he began serving with Texas Baptist Men and in 1961 with Royal Ambassadors. He returned to banking briefly, retiring in 1987. In 1989, he began serving as director of Royal Ambassadors for Texas Baptist Men until his retirement in 1995. He served on the TBM board beginning in 1968. He and his wife, Barbara, traveled the world sharing the love of Christ through camps, church building, evangelism and disaster relief. A member of First Baptist Church in Plano after retirement, he was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and missions worker. He was preceded in death by his brother, Chester; sisters, Dorothy Bridges, Mavis Bridges and Marjorie Perkins. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara; sons, David and Dwight; daugher, Darla Harrison; sister, Geraldine Maberry; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. 

Bill Bailey Jr., 86, Aug. 19 in Waco. An insurance executive, he graduated from Baylor University and the Baylor School of Law. He served three terms as a trustee, one term as vice chairman of the board and three terms as regent of Baylor for a total of 18 years during the presidencies of Abner McCall, Herbert Reynolds and Robert Sloan. Bill Bailey Jr.He chaired the presidential succession committee in 1994 through 1995. He was honored by the Baylor Alumni Association as a distinguished alumnus in 1997 and also received the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award. The Institute for Faith and Learning of Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary established the annual Bill and Roberta Bailey Family Lecture in Christian Ethics. The couple also received the James Huckins, Pat Neff and President’s medallions from Baylor. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Waco, where he served as trustee, deacon and committee chairman. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Roberta. Brett CoulterHe is survived by three sons, Roy, Wesley and Hatch; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.  

Brett Coulter, 61, Aug. 23 in Brownwood. An aerospace engineer most of his career, for the last 10 years, he was a mathematics professor at Howard Payne University. Recently, he was named director of the engineering science program at HPU. He is survived by his wife, Laura; and sister, Cindy Berner.