A Different Celebration....

Thursday Morning I was packed and ready to head to the airport to pick up my niece. We were heading to St. George for the annual Girl's Party. My parents were coming to St. George to be with their family. I had talked to my mom and she did not seem right. I called my sister Lisa as I always do. I had talked to Lisa several times and then my parents again, then I had the shocking phone call that my mother had passed away. My mother had quickly and quietly slipped from this life. A sweet passing. I went to the airport and my dear niece, Jill, was good natured when I told her we were driving to Salt Lake. There was no place we would rather be.

My Mother's Obituary

Mildred Harris Bradley 1921 – 2009

Mildred Harris Bradley unexpectedly passed away Thursday, November 5, 2009, after a long, full, and wonderful life.

She was born March 8, 1921, in Logan, Utah, to Franklin Stewart Harris and Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris. The family moved to Provo, Utah, when her father became President of BYU. Raised in the President’s home on the BYU campus, Mildred enjoyed the academic environment and graduated from BYU with a degree in Clothing and Textiles. She met her sweetheart, Ralph O. Bradley, at BYU. They married in the Salt Lake Temple and raised a happy family of 14 children. They now have 86 grandchildren and 144 great-grandchildren. Fifty-four of the grandchildren have served missions for the LDS Church to date.

Mildred loved her activity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many positions in the Relief Society and Young Women’s organizations. She also served as a hostess at the Beehive House and at the Church Office Building. She loved her church service as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple and as the Temple Matron for the Washington D.C. Temple, while Ralph served as the Temple President. She also loved serving with her husband while he was Mission President of the Temple Square Mission and the North Carolina, Charlotte Mission.

Mildred was a great example to her family and friends, and she was loved and well-respected by all. Mom was a woman of integrity who successfully raised 14 children in a loving and well organized home. The laundry was always done, and there was always a nutritious hot meal on the table. Mom even made most of her children’s clothing.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years and thirteen of her children: S. Robert (Lonnie) Bradley, Susan (Leslie) Dorrough, Judy (Rick) Parry, Craig S. (Kathy) Bradley, Betsy (Dalton) Cannon, Richard H. Bradley, James R. (Shauna) Bradley, Maryjane (Brad) Melis, Peggy Waltman, John S. (Ann) Bradley, David H. (Cathy) Bradley, Barbara (Mike) Creer, and Lisa (Ned) Stephenson, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathleen Bradley Offret, her daughter-in-law, Marcia Bradley, her parents, and her five older siblings, Arlene Harris Grover, Franklin Stewart Harris, Jr., Chauncy Dennison Harris, Helen Harris Jenson, and Leah Harris Jensen.

A viewing will be held Sunday, November 8, 2009, at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 9, at the Garden Heights Ward, 2220 East Fisher Lane (2935 South), at 12 noon, with a viewing from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. Online condolences at http://www.larkincares.com/

The Funeral truly was a celebration of her life... but that is another post....

My Dad's Bishop commented this morning about the family, "Boy they have fun when they get together."
My Sweet Dad with his 13 living Children at the funeral.