Etna Jane Bridges Haley nee’ Fate passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 87 on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at her home in Scroggins, Texas.
Etna was born September 25, 1937, to Emory Fate and Ethel (Griggs) Fate in Monahans, Texas. After the death of her father, her mother moved her and her sister, Minnie to Saltillo, Texas, where they resided for many years. Etna met her first husband, Charles Sanford Bridges, in high school. On October 23, 1951, at a Halloween party hosted by mutual friends, they took a walk, holding hands and gazing at the stars on a dark country road, and fell in love. He proposed to her at Stout’s Creek Cemetery, and they were married on September 5, 1953. They had 4 children together and were together for 49 years until his passing on July 26,2002. She later got a second chance at love, when she met James Haley at the Life Fellowship Church in Mount Vernon and married in 2004. They were together for 10 years until they parted in death on December 13, 2014.
She is survived by her children, James (Evangeline) Bridges, Jeffrey (Amy) Bridges, Jane Bridges (Barbara Bays), Brett (Lindy) Haley, and David Haley; her grandchildren, Kathleen (James) Bradley, Susan (Jimmy) Horn, Dustin (Ray) Bridges, Johnny (Kristy) Bays, Kelly (Austin) Haley Roth, JR Haley; her great grandchildren, Hannah Bradley and Loki Bradley; brother-in-law, Bo Wafford; sister-in-law, Norma Bridges and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Emory and Ethel Fate; husbands, Charles Sanford Bridges and James Haley; son, Joe Charles Bridges; sister, Minnie Wafford; brother-in-law, Doyle Bridges; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bobbie and Annada Worsham; step-daughter-in-law, Traci Haley.
Etna had many talents, including cooking, arts and crafts, painting, crochet, embroidery, and was a skilled seamstress. She enjoyed antiquing, garage sales, and watching hummingbirds from her front porch with a good cup of coffee.
Visitation will be Friday, August 29,2025, from 6 to 8 pm at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 2 pm at Greenwood Baptist Church with burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery, officiated by Shannon Gamil.
Online condolences maybe made at www.samharveyfuneralhome.com
Services entrusted to Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home
