Matt C. Bledsoe III

Matt “Sonny” Bledsoe passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at his home in Dallas at the age of 91. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to all that knew and loved him.

Mr. Bledsoe was born in Elm Grove, Louisiana on February 6, 1923 to Jonnie Ward Bledsoe and Matt C. Bledsoe, Jr. He attended Centenary College until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1942. After serving in the Pacific for four years, he returned home to forge a career in the family business of automobile sales and service. Known for his business acumen and quick wit, Mr. Bledsoe spent the next forty years growing the business, later working alongside his children. In 1981, his professional success culminated with a move to Texas and the ownership of multiple Dodge dealerships in the DFW metroplex. At the time of Mr. Bledsoe’s retirement in 1995, the Bledsoe family had owned and operated dealerships in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Colorado.

Mr. Bledsoe is survived by his wife of 68 years, Emma Lee Dansby Bledsoe of Dallas, and their three children, Mary Sue Courtney and husband, Randy of Dallas; Matt Bledsoe and wife, Cindy of Rockwall; and Bill Bledsoe and wife, Lalis of Dallas. Other survivors include grandchildren Randall Courtney, Emily Courtney, Katie Grace Kratus and husband, Jim; Whitney Bledsoe, Kelly Baxter and husband, Corby; Creighton, Sophia, Jessica and Isabella Bledsoe, and Alexandra Bledsoe and her husband, Santiago Mesta. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Auden Baxter and Emilio Mesta Bledsoe. Mr. Bledsoe was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Brint, and his mother and father.

A Memorial Service will be at 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel East. In lieu of floral tributes, the family requests memorials be made to the Methodist Children’s Home, 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708 or the charity of your choice. Online condolences can be made at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest .com.