Beverly Ann Bradford

Beverly Ann (Poss) Bradford August 23, 1933 ~ March 17, 2014 On the afternoon of March 17, 2014, Beverly Ann Bradford, loving wife, devoted mother and compassionate caregiver, passed away peacefully with her adoring family at her side. Beverly Ann (Poss) Bradford was born August 23, 1933, in Rapid City, SD, as the middle of three daughters born to Harry J. Poss and Myrtle (Swain) Poss. Beverly was born, raised, educated, and married in Rapid City, SD. After graduating from Rapid City High School, she enrolled at St. John's McNamara School of Nursing in Rapid City. Shortly after receiving her RN degree from St. John's, she married Robert Bradford on August 19, 1954, a blessed union that would last for the next 60 years. They made their first home in Spearfish, SD, where Bob was attending college. During this time, sons, Tim and Tom, were born. In 1956, the family moved to Richland, WA, where Bob had accepted a teaching position in an elementary school. In 1958, the family moved to Ritzville, WA, where Bob taught in middle school. Here, son, Bill and daughter, Mary, joined the family. In 1961, Bob received a grant to attend Washington State University. Bob and Bev moved the family to Pullman, WA to pursue a Master's degree. When the year was completed, they returned to Rapid City, SD spending the summer visiting family. Daughter, Teresa, was born during that visit in the summer of 1962. In August of 1962, the family made their home in Wenatchee, WA. Bob was Assistant Principal/Counselor at the high school and Bev went to work as an RN at Central Washington Deaconess Hospital. It was in her nursing that her true compassion and generous spirit for those she encountered shown through. She was offered an opportunity to teach in the Allied Health program at Wenatchee Valley College. She taught from 1966 to 1974 and was Director of the LPN program. Following teaching, she became the Director of Nursing at Parkside Manor Long Term Care Center. Bev received a Kellogg Foundation grant in 1978, to earn her Geriatric Nurse Practitioner certificate at the University of New York, Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY. After completing the program, she practiced as GNP at Parkside Manor, until she retired in 1998. During this time, Bev was involved in developing the Dementia Care Unit at Parkside Manor, one of the first in the area. She traveled around the state giving presentations on Dementia, Alzheimer's Type. Bev was an active member in the American Nurses' Association, Holy Apostles' Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters' of the Americas, St. Anne's Guild, and a charter member of Wenatchee Valley Lions Club, becoming the first female District Governor in the region. As active as Bev was in the community, her true devotion was for her family. She is survived by her husband, Bob; sons, Tim (Louise) Bradford of Beaverton, OR, Tom Bradford of Glendale, AZ, and Bill (Linda) Bradford of Wenatchee, WA; daughters, Mary Bradford of Seattle, WA, and Teri (Neil) Shipman of Bellingham, WA; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a sister, Harriet Young of Rapid City, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Helen Denny. A Rosary will be recited at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Thursday evening, March 20, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 21, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Apostles Catholic Church. The Service will conclude at the church. A Private Interment will take place at Evergreen Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Beverly Ann Bradford

August 23, 1933 - March 17, 2014