Jim Briggs

James Clyde Briggs of Apache Junction, Arizona, was born in Holyoke on June 6, 1931, to James Claude and Bessie Belle (Jones) Briggs. He died Nov. 15, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona.

He married Beverly Hotaling in Ault on Jan. 11, 1959.

Jim served in the U.S. Navy in 1950 as a naval corpsman with the 1st Marine Division and received degrees from Trinidad State, Colorado State College (UNC) and University of Wyoming. He was a teacher, coach and principal in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and Arizona.

Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly Briggs; children, Patricia Briggs-Yazzie and husband Jonas of St. Michaels, Arizona, James R. Briggs and wife Stephanie of Watauga, Texas, Michael Briggs and wife Peggy of Helena, Alabama, Martha Bridge and husband Rick of Lusk, Wyoming, and R. John C. Briggs of Merchant Marine; sister, Maxine Stegall and husband Keith of Leadville; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings, Betty (Briggs) McConnell, Willard Briggs and Robert Briggs.

Memorials may be made to Honor the Teacher Scholarship, in memory of Jim Briggs, c/o The University of Wyoming Foundation, 222 S. 22nd St., Laramie, WY 82070.

Jim’s body was donated to Science Care in Arizona before being cremated.