Mabel Florence Bridges

Mabel Florence Bridges, age 101, former resident of Guest Home Estates and more recently of Fort Scott Manor, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, at Mercy Health Center. She was born July 29, 1906, in Mulberry, Kan., the daughter of Orville James Fulton and Tillie Esther Hunsicker Fulton. Mabel was a 1924 graduate of Fort Scott High School. After graduation, she went to work at J.C. Penney Company. She worked there until she married Wayman Bridges on Jan. 1, 1928, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death in 1962. She worked at the Western Insurance Company until retiring in 1968. Mabel moved to Reno, Nev., for a period to be with her brother in the motel business. She returned to Fort Scott where she enjoyed volunteer work and bowling. Mabel won the Kansas State Doubles Bowling tournament in 1959. At the time of her death, she was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Helen Fulton, Fort Scott and a great-nephew, Glenn Surles, Millersville, Md. Also surviving are her care givers, Darrell and Rowena Thompson, Fort Scott and many cousins. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Claude, William and Chester Fulton.

The Rev. Tim Davish will conduct graveside services at 11 a.m., Monday, in the Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may meet at Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:40 a.m. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church and may be sent to the church or to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS, 66701.