Mary Lou Bradford

Mary Lou Bradford of Kingston passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at Harriman Health Care Center. Born on October 24, 1911, Mary Lou presided over 101 years of change and transformation in the world around her. Mary Lou and husband, Gordon, moved to Kingston in 1940 and made their home three miles east of Kingston on Highway 70. Mary Lou's brother, Paul Walsh, opened The Hut restaurant in Kingston and Mary Lou baked the pies for Paul's Hut. In the 1960's, Gordon's work took the Bradford's west to the states of Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. Mary Lou loved the great American West, especially Montana where the folks in the small town where the Bradford's resided welcomed the "funny talking southern people" with a mix of curiosity and love. Mary Lou continued to receive and enjoy the newspaper from this small Montana town until her death. She was an avid fisherman and a devoted fan of the Atlanta Braves and UT Lady Vols whom she followed faithfully until her passing. The Bradford's returned to the Kingston home place in 1975 where they continued to live until shortly before Gordon's death in 1988. Mary Lou's quick wit and ability to mimic other folk continued to entertain those around her throughout her life. She taught all of her grandchildren to play Canasta during summer trips to the Carolina beaches. She was a loving mother who created many precious memories for her family. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Rosa Hurt Walsh of Scottsboro, Alabama; brothers, Frank Thomas, William (Billy) and Paul Walsh; husband, Gordon; son, Robert Badger and grandson Jimmy Bradford. She is survived by her children, Dr. William Gordon "Mick" Bradford, Jr. of Charleston, South Carolina; Rosemary Bradford Alexander and husband Joe of Kingston; and Frank Bradford and wife Shelba of Chattanooga. Surviving grandchildren include Clay Badger and wife Rhonda of Kingston; Adam Badger of Kingston; Molly Badger Cooper and husband Brett of Maryville; "Mickey" Bradford and wife Chuen of Anchorage, Alaska; Hunter Bradford of Metropolis, Illinois; Quint Bradford and wife Blaine of Greensboro, North Carolina; Julia Bradford Dibrell and husband Phil of Rock Hill, South Carolina; Jonathan Bradford Hensley and wife Dr. Nadia of Baltimore, Maryland; Michael Bradford and wife Gretchen Haufler of Knoxville; Mary Bradford of Asheville, North Carolina and Laura Bradford Weathers and husband Robert "Tripp" of Weaverville, North Carolina; eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Receiving of friends will be Monday, December 10 from 11:00-12 noon at Kyker Funeral Home in Kingston with a Celebration of Life Service at noon with the Reverends Todd Chancy and Sue Lynn Johnson of Kingston United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be at Kingston Memorial Gardens following the Celebration of Life service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Building Fund at the Kingston United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 248, Kingston, TN 37763. The family wishes to thank the personnel of Jamestowne Assisted Living for their loving care of Mary Lou during the sixteen years that she resided there. The family would also like to thank Home Health Care of East Tennessee and Hospice and Harriman Health Care and Dr. Dwight Willett who cared for Mary Lou in her final days

Mary Lou Bradford

October 24, 1911 - December 8, 2012