Edward
Edward Francis Bradley
d. March 22, 2014
1939 ~ 2014
Edward Francis Bradley, son of Fred Gaylord Bradley and Frances McNamara Bradley Burmeister, died peacefully from a failing heart on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at his home in Spanish Fork, Utah. Born May 3, 1939, in Chicago, Ed grew up first on the rough South Side and later in South Bend, Indiana. As a young man, he served as an altar boy and aspired to be a priest. He was part of the first graduating class of St. Joseph High School and received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Notre Dame. He served his country as Lt. Bradley, at Fort Hood and was one of the original employees of the Environmental Protection Agency.
A natural leader and entrepreneur, Ed founded three businesses, EcolSciences (in business since 1973); the original Shopping.com; and QuicKnowledge, Inc. He served as Associate Director of the University of Utah Artificial Heart Research Laboratory, adjunct professor of Engineering, Director of Quality Control for Geneva Steel, and CEO of Cannon Industries.
Though too tender-hearted to kill a spider, the young Ed had an Irish temper. The temper later evaporated, but the Irish always remained. He was incredibly proud of his McNamara heritage and a zealous "Fighting Irish" fan.
Ed converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he became, instead of a Catholic priest, an LDS bishop. As Bishop Bradley of the South Bend Ward, he founda�"and often createda�"jobs for the unemployed, offered the family property as the ward welfare farm, and let people stay in his home while they got back on their feet. He often described this time of service as the highlight of his life.
Ed married his eternal companion Patricia Mae Thornhill on June 4, 1977, in the Washington, DC LDS temple. He embraced her children by previous marriage and made them his own. Ed's love for Patricia was one of the things that defined his life, and she was by his side the moment that life completed.
He was a strict but loving father who was relentless in holding Family Home Evening. Some of the things he loved sharing with his kids were wrestling, thumb wars, "Famous Amos and Handy Andy" stories, rootbeer floats, his gentle teasing wit, and "McNamara's Band." His kids will recognize his trademark whistle even on resurrection day.
Ed always took his own counsel to keep an eternal perspective. He held his own against serious heart disease for 25 years and Parkinson's for 15, without complaint.
He was dutiful, idealistic, an ideal priesthood holder, and strove to be like Christ. The words he wrote in the front of his scriptures serve as a fitting memorial: "Faithful, obedient, diligent."
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Mary Catherine Schrader, Norman Bradley, Joanne Martin, and Janet Geise; and his youngest son by Patricia, Charles David McNamara Bradley. He is survived by his loving wife Patricia; his sister-in-law Pat Bradley; and five children from his first marriage to Beverly Miller: Elizabeth (Brian) Couch, Bridget (Mike) Feeks, Sarah (Joseph) Fink, Edward, Jr. (Heidi), and Margaret Woodward; as well as five children from his marriage to Patricia: Debbie (J.D.) Fagan, Ken (Sharon), Don (Michaelann), Jennifer, and Matt. Ed is the progenitor of numerous grandchildren: Brian (Mary), Meghan, Sean, Patrick, and Mairin Couch; Becca (William) Brophy; Annie (Jonathan) Palak, Mary Christeta, John, Joseph, and William Feeks; Hopey, Peter, Francie, and Julia Fink; Isabel, Hubert, Xavier, Beatrice, and Edward, Theodore Bradley; Louisa, Luke, Henry, and Hattie Woodward; Crystal (August), Brandi Walker, and Sean McCann; Aaron, Luther, Tristan, Ngairie, and K. J. Bradley; Donnie and Nicholas Bradley; Broc Bradley Patten; and Monroe and Lochlan Bradley; and great-grandchildren George Couch, Juliet Feeks, Kaenan Walker, Bella Fagan, and Addalie and Ash McCann.
A public viewing will be held on Sunday, March 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E 200 S, Springville, Utah. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 31 at 11:00 AM (preceded by a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45 AM) in the LDS meetinghouse at 1600 N Main Street, Mapleton, Utah. Interment in Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.wheelermortuaries.com
Edward Francis Bradley, son of Fred Gaylord Bradley and Frances McNamara Bradley Burmeister, died peacefully from a failing heart on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at his home in Spanish Fork, Utah. Born May 3, 1939, in Chicago, Ed grew up first on the rough South Side and later in South Bend, Indiana. As a young man, he served as an altar boy and aspired to be a priest. He was part of the first graduating class of St. Joseph High School and received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Notre Dame. He served his country as Lt. Bradley, at Fort Hood and was one of the original employees of the Environmental Protection Agency.
A natural leader and entrepreneur, Ed founded three businesses, EcolSciences (in business since 1973); the original Shopping.com; and QuicKnowledge, Inc. He served as Associate Director of the University of Utah Artificial Heart Research Laboratory, adjunct professor of Engineering, Director of Quality Control for Geneva Steel, and CEO of Cannon Industries.
Though too tender-hearted to kill a spider, the young Ed had an Irish temper. The temper later evaporated, but the Irish always remained. He was incredibly proud of his McNamara heritage and a zealous "Fighting Irish" fan.
Ed converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he became, instead of a Catholic priest, an LDS bishop. As Bishop Bradley of the South Bend Ward, he founda�"and often createda�"jobs for the unemployed, offered the family property as the ward welfare farm, and let people stay in his home while they got back on their feet. He often described this time of service as the highlight of his life.
Ed married his eternal companion Patricia Mae Thornhill on June 4, 1977, in the Washington, DC LDS temple. He embraced her children by previous marriage and made them his own. Ed's love for Patricia was one of the things that defined his life, and she was by his side the moment that life completed.
He was a strict but loving father who was relentless in holding Family Home Evening. Some of the things he loved sharing with his kids were wrestling, thumb wars, "Famous Amos and Handy Andy" stories, rootbeer floats, his gentle teasing wit, and "McNamara's Band." His kids will recognize his trademark whistle even on resurrection day.
Ed always took his own counsel to keep an eternal perspective. He held his own against serious heart disease for 25 years and Parkinson's for 15, without complaint.
He was dutiful, idealistic, an ideal priesthood holder, and strove to be like Christ. The words he wrote in the front of his scriptures serve as a fitting memorial: "Faithful, obedient, diligent."
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Mary Catherine Schrader, Norman Bradley, Joanne Martin, and Janet Geise; and his youngest son by Patricia, Charles David McNamara Bradley. He is survived by his loving wife Patricia; his sister-in-law Pat Bradley; and five children from his first marriage to Beverly Miller: Elizabeth (Brian) Couch, Bridget (Mike) Feeks, Sarah (Joseph) Fink, Edward, Jr. (Heidi), and Margaret Woodward; as well as five children from his marriage to Patricia: Debbie (J.D.) Fagan, Ken (Sharon), Don (Michaelann), Jennifer, and Matt. Ed is the progenitor of numerous grandchildren: Brian (Mary), Meghan, Sean, Patrick, and Mairin Couch; Becca (William) Brophy; Annie (Jonathan) Palak, Mary Christeta, John, Joseph, and William Feeks; Hopey, Peter, Francie, and Julia Fink; Isabel, Hubert, Xavier, Beatrice, and Edward, Theodore Bradley; Louisa, Luke, Henry, and Hattie Woodward; Crystal (August), Brandi Walker, and Sean McCann; Aaron, Luther, Tristan, Ngairie, and K. J. Bradley; Donnie and Nicholas Bradley; Broc Bradley Patten; and Monroe and Lochlan Bradley; and great-grandchildren George Couch, Juliet Feeks, Kaenan Walker, Bella Fagan, and Addalie and Ash McCann.
A public viewing will be held on Sunday, March 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E 200 S, Springville, Utah. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 31 at 11:00 AM (preceded by a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45 AM) in the LDS meetinghouse at 1600 N Main Street, Mapleton, Utah. Interment in Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.wheelermortuaries.com
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