My Dad

My dad will have the best Christmas.  

He is with my mom, they are setting up those chairs in heaven for the rest of the family.  

The family theme has been "no empty chairs".  

We all need to return to heaven to be together forever.

His passing was sweet with his children surrounding him.

We sang and we recounted our favorite memories.

There was so much love for my father and each other.

What a blessing to be his child and to be raised by these marvelous parents.

They never stopped raising us, my dad took every opportunity to teach his family.

I have been very blessed.

As we were at the mortuary making the final arrangements, we joked about now we are orphans!  

I can't think of a better set of siblings to be orphans with.  

My parents have left quite a posterity and I am grateful to be among the masses.

Ralph O. Bradley

1920-2016

On December 22, Ralph O. Bradley passed away surrounded by his loving children.  His capacity for love was limitless, and he will be deeply missed by family, friends, those he served through his leadership, and the many others he touched on his journey through life. 

He left this life as he lived it, nobly.  Truly of Ralph, it can be said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”  As a family, we have the certain knowledge that death is not the end and this period of separation is only temporary.

Ralph was born February 24, 1920, on a kitchen table in Moroni, Utah, the first of two children of William Otis and Nida Susannah Hales Bradley.  He married Mildred Harris on May 14, 1941, in the Salt Lake Temple.  He was in business for himself most of his life, at Bradley Badger, Town & Country Home Furnishings and Bradley’s Sleep Center.  He wanted to work for himself so his children could work with him.

Ralph loved children.  He is survived by 13 children, S. Robert (Lonnie), Susan (Leslie) Dorrough, Judith Parry, Craig (Joy), Betsy (Dalton) Cannon, Richard, James (Shauna), Maryjane (Bradford) Melis, Peggy Waltman, John (Ann), David (Catherine), Barbara (Michael) Creer and Lisa (Ned) Stephenson.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mildred Bradley, and daughter, Kathleen (Ron) Offret.  At the time of his passing, Ralph and Mildred were blessed with 86 grandchildren, 231 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  Ralph is also survived by his brother-in-law, Robert Sorbonne.

Ralph was a loving husband and devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather.  His greatest joy was his family.  His family was very important to him. He sponsored fun-filled family reunions and brought his children together on cruises.  But, with Ralph it wasn’t just the big events.  He was in touch with the lives of each of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren on a very personal and individual basis.  He had the amazing ability to know what everyone was up to, their struggles and challenges, and their successes.  He was always there to offer a listening ear and advice.

As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ralph was always blessed with a strong and valiant testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and showed that testimony through continuous service.  Ralph spent nearly his entire adult life serving in the church.  He willingly devoted his time to callings such as Bishop, Stake President, Mission President of the North Carolina Charlotte Mission, Executive Secretary to the Southeast Area President, Regional Representative of the Twelve, Director of Temple Square, President of the Washington D.C. Temple and Sealer in the Salt Lake Temple.  He was also a committed and caring home teacher.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 30^th, at 11:00 am at Garden Heights Ward, 2220 E. Fisher Lane (2950 South).  A viewing will be held at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South in Salt Lake City on Thursday, December 29^th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and also Friday December 30th from 9:00 to 10:30 am at the church prior to the funeral services.  Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the General Missionary Fund, Humanitarian Fund or Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Family is truly the most cherished thing in my life.