Sidney K. Bradley left this earth suddenly on April 24, 2012, doing what he loved on the land where he entered this life. He was born to Sherman and Gladys Williams Bradley in Long Lane, Missouri on November 1, 1936. He was the second oldest of 4 children by them. He accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal savior in his teens and was a member of Fair Grove United Methodist Church. Sidney joined the Navy out of high school and traveled all over the world. He returned to marry his high school sweetheart, Nancy. He then graduated from college with degrees in mathematics and electronics. He taught high school math for a few years before teaching electronics in college at the University of Michigan and receiving master''s degrees from there and University of New Mexico. Sidney raised three children and moved them back home to southwest Missouri. Sidney then accepted a position with IBM where he was a systems analyst for 25 years. He retired at age 51 and taught computer programming for College of the Ozarks. He then spent the remainder of his life doing what he loved the most which was farming over 1000 acres and raising beef cattle. Sidney loved the outdoors and loved spending time on his tractors. More than anything, Sidney loved watching his grandsons and granddaughter learn a love of the outdoors and hunting and fishing. Sidney taught them many things, above all to enjoy life. His grandkids and grand nieces and nephews often called him the toughest man on the face of the earth and lovingly referred to him as "John Wayne."
Sidney is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy, his son Sidney, his daughter Shelley Padgett and husband Dean, his daughter Sandra Robinson and husband Tim, his grandsons Samuel Cooper Padgett and Sawyer Powers Padgett, Marshall Bradley Robinson and granddaughter Madison Bradley Robinson all of Fair Grove. He is also survived by his sister Sonya Gerhardt of Cherokee, OK, brother Shelby and wife Judy Bradley of Fair Grove, MO, brother Scott Bradley of Platte City, MO. He is also survived by his uncle Dennison and his wife Ruby of Joshua, TX and many cousins, nephews, nieces, all of whom he loved dearly.
A celebration of his life and military service will be conducted at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery on Friday May 4th at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, plant a tree in his name. The Earth lost a great guy but Heaven received a jewel.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the Fair Grove United Methodist Church.