Jerry Mason Bridges, 82, of North Vernon, passed away at 4:34 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Hayden, Indiana.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Rev. Jerry Byrd will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Joseph's Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the Recitation of the Rosary at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024 and again from 10:00 a.m. until departure for the church at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral and Cremation Service.

Born on November 20, 1941, in Marion Township, Jennings County, Indiana. Jerry was the loving son of Ralph D. and Grace L. (Boicourt) Bridges. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Vogel at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on August 20, 1964. She preceded him in death on November 27, 2020.

Jerry graduated from Hayden High School. He went on to further his education attending Franklin College and then receiving his Master's in Education from the Indiana University. He taught middle school classes for forty years, thirty-eight of which were taught in Jennings County. Jerry was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, National Education Association, and the Indiana State Teachers Association. His hobbies included upholstery and woodworking. These hobbies provided additional income as well as satisfaction. Many of his students, family, and friends were important and provided a lifetime of joyful interactions and memories.

Jerry was always fascinated with the fact that the day he was born was referred to as Franksgiving Day. At the time there was not any official date for Thanksgiving, but the presidents always declared the fourth Thursday of November as the day of observation. In 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt declared the third Thursday as Thanksgiving. People showed their disdain by calling it Franksgiving. It later became lawthe the fourth Thursday was the official day of Thanksgiving.

Left to cherish Jerry's memory are his sons, Lee Bridges of North Vernon, and Mark (Stefanie) Bridges of Wesley Chapel, FL; daughters, Jane Bridges of North Vernon, and Ann (Clyde) Colaco of Fairfield, OH; grandchildren, Lilly and Mason Bridges, Eleanor and Evelyn Colaco; sister, Joyce Allen; several in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Grace Bridges; wife, Elizabeth Bridges; sister, Nesiamae Bayes; and many beloved brother and sister in-laws.

Memorial can be made through the funeral home to the St. Joseph's Cemetery Endowment.