James Allen Spriggs

James' career began in Texarkana, Texas with GTE/Verizon in 1956. Many moves were made as his career advanced. Some of them are Garland, Texas; Jacksonville, Texas; Jacksonville, Arkansas, Stuttgart, Arkansas; Carrollton, Texas; and Irving, Texas. He began in the Engineering Department in Texarkana; was District Plant Manager, Jacksonville, Texas; and Division Manager in Stuttgart, Arkansas. When relocated to the Mid-Cities Area his jobs came with much more responsibility. He retired in November, 1993 as Regional Vice President-General Manager, GTE Operations-South Central Region in Irving, Texas. James' second career was as President-CEO of the Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce where he worked for almost 10 years. He received many awards and commendations during his working career. Among them are Citizen of the Year and Chairman of the Board for both the Carrollton and Irving Chambers of Commerce, President of the Irving Symphony Orchestra, served on the board of United Cerebral Palsy, Boy Scouts of America and Irving Schools Foundation and was an active member of the Irving Rotary Club. He also served as Director of the Irving Hospital Foundation and as Director of several banks in the area. He was elected to the City Council while living in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He was very proud of the fact that he completed his education after both the career with GTE and Chamber and received a Bachelor of Science in University Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington in 2014. He was a member of First Baptist Colleyville, in Colleyville, Texas. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Keller Oaks Healthcare Center for their kindness and loving care of James this past year.

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James A. Spriggs of Colleyville, Texas, passed away Monday, May 22, 2017. James was born in Texarkana, Texas on November 9, 1934 to Charles Barto Spriggs and Evie June Spriggs. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn Spriggs, and two children, Larry Spriggs a resident of Denton State Supported Living Center (DSSLC) in Denton, Texas, and Debbie McDonald and husband Kirk of San Antonio, Texas, two grandsons, Patrick McDonald and wife Sarah of Dallas and Sean McDonald of San Antonio. He is predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Louise Lovelace and Geraldine Whatley and three brothers. Charles Spriggs, Dale Spriggs and Bill Spriggs. He is survived by in addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, many nieces and nephews who always thought so much of their "Uncle James". James' career began in Texarkana, Texas with GTE/Verizon in 1956. Many moves were made as his career advanced. Some of them are Garland, Texas; Jacksonville, Texas; Jacksonville, Arkansas, Stuttgart, Arkansas; Carrollton, Texas; and Irving, Texas. He began in the Engineering Department in Texarkana; was District Plant Manager, Jacksonville, Texas; and Division Manager in Stuttgart, Arkansas. When relocated to the Mid-Cities Area his jobs came with much more responsibility. He retired in November, 1993 as Regional Vice President-General Manager, GTE Operations-South Central Region in Irving, Texas. James' second career was as President-CEO of the Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce where he worked for almost 10 years. He received many awards and commendations during his working career. Among them are Citizen of the Year and Chairman of the Board for both the Carrollton and Irving Chambers of Commerce, President of the Irving Symphony Orchestra, served on the board of United Cerebral Palsy, Boy Scouts of America and Irving Schools Foundation and was an active member of the Irving Rotary Club. He also served as Director of the Irving Hospital Foundation and as Director of several banks in the area. He was elected to the City Council while living in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He was very proud of the fact that he completed his education after both the career with GTE and Chamber and received a Bachelor of Science in University Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington in 2014. He was a member of First Baptist Colleyville, in Colleyville, Texas. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Keller Oaks Healthcare Center for their kindness and loving care of James this past year. Funeral arrangements are to be held May 26, 2017 at Bluebonnet Funeral Home, Colleyville, Texas. Visitation at 10 a.m., services at 12:30 p.m. and reception at 1:30 p.m. all to be held at same location.