March 29, 1938 - August 8, 2019
Gloria was born in Oroville CA on March 29, 1938, she passed on August 8th, 2019 at 81 years. She went home surrounded by her loving family.
Gloria grew up in Oroville and attended Oroville public schools. She was involved in Scouting from Brownies through Senior Girl Scouts, Honor Society, theatre, writing, insatiable appetite for reading, painting and decorating. She worked at the local dry cleaners, “The Modern Dry Cleaner”. At the cleaners she met and married Frank and they had had 4 children. As the children entered school she became involved in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) started as Secretary then up to President. She returned to scouting again as both Junior Girl Scout Leader and as Cub Scout Leader, it was a big part of family life. As with many things life gets in the way and a divorce happened. She took that pain and put it into her paintings and she also began working at a variety of different carpet and design stores. So taking that knowledge and her talents she opened “Interiors By Gloria”. She won many design awards through out the bay area for her interior designs. Gloria joined Parents Without Partners (PWP) where she met her best friend JoAnne. The two of them made the Livermore area their playground and there were so many parties. PWP is where Gloria met Tommy and they married and were married for over 30 years. They truly loved being grandparents.
Gloria loved to paint beautiful acrylic paintings; mountain ranges, seascapes, stills and cabins in the woods. She entered many of them into the San Joaquin County Fair and won awards for each. Her creations will continue to give us joy. After her retirement, she decided to share her love of the arts. She joined the Stockton Art League and began teaching acrylic painting to senior students at Delta College and at Oak Park Senior Center. She felt like her students were more like an extended family.
Gloria Bridgers was/is a beautiful soul that loved life, treasured her family and embraced every moment with them. She had a such great sense of humor and a vivacious personality and made friends everywhere she went. She especially loved her role as Nana, with so many grands and great grandkids to wrap her arms around. She is leaving a giant void in the lives of families and friends but we do take comfort in knowing she is at peace and finally free of pain and reunited with her loved ones that went before her.
Rest in Peace Mom
Those family members that were called home before her; parents C.L. and Delores Jones; brother Craig Jones; sister Patricia Jones Steele, Nephews Gary & Jerry Steele; Husband Tommy Bridgers who passed only 6 months ago!
She is survived by:
Gloria aka Spooky’s (living) brother and sister-in-law; Gary & Glinda Jones. Aunt Gloria to Scott Jones & Kelly (Jones) York as well as their children.
Gloria is also survived by her first husband; Frank Kenitzer As well as her Best Friend of 45 years; JoAnne McCune
Mom/Nana will as always continue to watch over her loved ones!!:
Those that called her Mom, her children; Guys Kenitzer, Terri (Kenitzer) McGraw w/Paul Johnson, Kim (Kenitzer) Olson w/Roger Olson, Steve Kenitzer w/Sylvia Kenitzer.
For 30+ years Step-Mom to Tommy’s children; Tony Glenn Bridgers, DeeAnn (Bridgers) Bourgorn.
Those that called her Nana, her 14 grandchildren; Crystal Breedlove, Melissa Kenitzer, Brandy Santos, Holly Dillon, Tony Olson, Stephanie Olson, Jacob Kenitzer, Collin Kenitzer, Jessica Kenitzer, Phoebe Bridgers, Jackson Bridgers, Larry Heberger, Rondee Duboard, Delrae Heberger.
Nana was blessed to get to know many of her 17 great-grandchildren; Ryan, Sapphire, Danyka, Brandyn, Ilyse, Zoey, Carli, Chris, Amber, Devlin, James, Jayden, Isabella, David, Madison, Ellie, Graycen. She also had a new great great grandchild Joseph.
SERVICE
A graveside service for Gloria will be held on Friday, August 30th, 2019 at 10:30am at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off of Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Bridgers family.
Please leave your condolences below.
