Lucy Bradley
HULBERT LAKE — Lucy Bradley, 87, of Hulbert Lake died on Sunday, May 11, Mother’s Day, at home following an extended illness.
She was born Lucy Irene Booth in Gladwin, Mich., on July 28, 1920, to Herbert and Susan (nee Ferrell) Booth, one of three children including James Booth (deceased) and Jesse Elizabeth Becker of Gladwin. Lucy graduated from Gladwin High School in 1938 as Salutatorian, and from Central Michigan in 1942 with a degree in education, after which she took a position at Reed City High School. During World War II, she answered the call of duty as a civilian codebreaker in Washington D.C. Following that service, she married a hometown boy, Dr. F.K. (Ken) Bradley, on June 11, 1946. They had five children and lived in Midland, Mich., for nine years before relocating to the “wild U.P.” at Newberry in 1955, spending summers with their family at their cabin on Hulbert Lake.
In 1965, Lucy was employed by the Tahquamenon Area School District as an English teacher at Newberry High School. She retained this position until her retirement in 1985. Lucy then continued to tutor students of all descriptions in Newberry, at Hulbert Lake, and even briefly at a school in Jamaica, until February 2007 when her health began to fail.
For Lucy, teaching was a vocation which grew out of the deep love she felt for her husband, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She affected literally thousands of young people over the course of her career, attempting always to steer her students, sometimes rather insistently, in the direction of the greater good.
Lucy was a lover of books and frequently quoted and took solace in works of literature, both classic and contemporary. She loved working in her wilderness garden as well. For a time, after the construction of her new home near the family cabin in 1981, she was the only year-round resident on Hulbert Lake.
Lucy was a member of the executive board of the Hulbert Lake Club. She was a trustee for the Village of Newberry, a member of the Tahquamenon Area Teachers’ Association, treasurer of the Tahquamenon Area Retired School Personnel Association, member of the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel and a member of St. Gregory’s Parish.
Lucy was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, in 1973; her parents; her brother; and a favorite aunt, Irene Elthorp of Gladwin.
In addition to her sister, Beth, she is survived by her children, James Bradley (Karen) of Ontonagon, Timothy Bradley (Ann) of Rudyard, Beth Bennett (Larry) of Mount Pleasant, Dennis Bradley (Marilyn) of Portage, Wis., and B.G. Bradley (Debbie) of Diorite. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry on Thursday May 15, 2008, from 12 noon until 2 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Karottekunnel officiating. Rite of Committal will follow at Forest Home Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North Woods Hospice, Beacon House of Marquette or your favorite charity.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
