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James (Jamie) Briggs - Deceased
10/5/2024
Veteran of "B" Battery,
1/83rd Artillery
1968-1969
James Buford Briggs (Jamie) was born
November 16, 1940, at Rollins-Brook Hospital in Lampasas, Texas.
His parents were Alfred Buford Briggs and Jewell Dean McCrea
Briggs. He died peacefully on Saturday, October 5, 2024,
surrounded by family and friends.
After Jamie's parents divorced when he
was young, he was reared by his mother who was the major
influence in his life. The neighborhood where Jamie grew up was
full of children and good times. Most of his time was spent
outside playing games such as hide and seek, kick the can, sheep
board down, cowboys and Indians, army, scrub baseball, and
football.
Starting at age 11, he worked every day after
school and on Saturdays at White's Auto Store earning $2.50 a
week. Thereafter, Jamie had a wide variety of jobs; he never
missed a day of work or school because of illness. He was
baptized at the First Baptist Church in Lampasas and kept his
strong Christian faith until the end. He attended Lampasas
schools and graduated from Lampasas High School in 1959. Jamie
was an Eagle Scout, competed in the UIL slide rule competition,
played football and ran track, and served as class president
during his junior and senior years.
Jamie received a
Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M University in College
Station, Texas in 1964, which at the time was an all-male
military school. While a cadet at Texas A&M, he was in Company
B-1 serving as First Sergeant. He was a member of the Ross
Volunteers, recognized as both a distinguished student and a
distinguished military student. While at college Jamie left his
car in Lampasas so his mother would have a way to work. Anytime
he went home to visit he hitchhiked. To pay for college, he
spent his summers working for the United States Forest Service
in Idaho and Montana, and as a switchman for the Southern
Pacific Railroad in San Antonio.
After graduating, he was
commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army, Field
Artillery. During his first tour at Fort Hood, Texas he met
Dorothy Ann Reed Briggs on a blind date that led to 57 years of
marriage. They had one child, their beautiful daughter Marcia
Ann Briggs. She was his pride and joy and he loved being a
daddy.
In the army, he had command, staff, and teaching
assignments with duty stations at Fort Hood, Texas; Vietnam; Ft.
Sill, Oklahoma; Graduated School at Texas A&M (Master's Degree
in Education); United States Military Academy at West Point, New
York; Korea; Texas A&I in Kingsville, Texas; Command and General
Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and Baumholder,
Germany. His third and final tour was at Ft. Hood where he
retired from the Army in 1986 with 22 years of service as a
LTC(P). Jamie and Dorothy loved the military life and no matter
where they were stationed they made friends and were active in
the post and community activities.
After retirement, he
ran the ROTC program for Sidney Lanier High School in San
Antonio, Texas. In 1988, they moved back home to Lampasas and
Jamie taught school in Lampasas and Burnet. In 1992, he started
his own business, Briggs Oak Wilt Service, and traveled all over
Central Texas treating oak trees for the oak wilt disease. He
became a certified arborist from the International Society of
Arboricultural and after 26 years he sold his business.
A
dedicated volunteer, Jamie served as President of the Lampasas
ISD School Board for nine years. In 2009, he was the driving
force in helping pass a bond that enabled LISD to build and open
a much-needed new high school and new elementary school. He
served on the American Heart Association Board, Spring Ho
Committee, and Board of Directors. He was a life member of the
Sons of The Republic of Texas, a member of the Kiwanis Club,
VFW, AMVETS, and American Legion Post 277 where he served as
Commander, and was the Boys State Chairman.
He loved to
hunt (mule deer in West Texas), fish, read (history), play table
games (especially moon), travel, and attend and watch Lampasas
Badger and Texas Aggie sports. Jamie and Dorothy were Grand
Marshals of the 42nd annual Spring Ho Festival Parade. To learn
more about Jamie's life, you can read the book he published in
2022, Memories of James B. Briggs.
Jamie was preceded in
death by his parents, his sister, Berta Dean Briggs Stanukinos,
and his beloved daughter, Marcia Ann Briggs. Jamie is survived
by his wife and best friend, Dorothy Ann Briggs; his nephew,
Stanley Stanukinos and three great-nephews, T.J., Samuel, and
Luke; the McCrea cousins; the Briggs cousins; the Reed Family
nephews and nieces; Rhonda and Randy Blanton and family; his
adopted family (the entire family of Dick and Juanita Procter)
Pepper, Kellie, Paris, Presli, and Maci Procter, Richard, Jena,
Jack, Victoria and Katie Procter, Sami Kinsey and family, Cindy
and George Goertz and family, Dixie and Kerry McGrath and
family, as well as a host of dear friends.
Jamie loved
his family and dear friends and was vocal about telling them.
His big heart, kindness, and compassion led him to always help
others and take up for the underdog. Thank you for being a part
of his life and for your love, support, and prayers with a
special thanks to Dr. Georgia Hay.
Services will be held
at Grace Fellowship Church on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 2 pm
with visitation an hour prior. Burial will follow at Oak Hill
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial
donations be made to the Marcia Ann Briggs Scholarship Fund
(Cadence Bank) or the charity of
your choice.
Click
here to leave a message of sympathy on Jamie's Guest Book.
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