Ollie Bradford

Ollie "Jay" Bradford, 88, of Cape Girardeau and formerly of Jackson, passed away Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 2, 1916, at Charleston, Mo., son of Ollie T. and Agnes Worland Bradford.

After graduation from the former Diehlstadt High School, Jay graduated from the former Cape Business College. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps Sept. 5, 1942, and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged Oct. 18, 1945. He and Marie Halter were married Feb. 25, 1946, in Charleston.

The Bradfords moved from Charleston to Jackson in 1952, where Jay worked for Penzel Construction Co., co-owned the former CAM Electric, and briefly worked in real estate.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, and was a 4th Degree knight in the Bishop Timon Council 6405 in Jackson. He was a former member of Kimbeland Country Club, and was active in sports when his children were young.

Loving survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marie, residing in Cape Girardeau; three sons, Jim Bradford and wife Polly of Advance, Mo., Joe Bradford and wife Anita of Chesterfield, Mo., Michael Bradford of Maryland Heights, Mo.; two daughters, Martha Caldwell and husband Doug of Kirkwood, Mo., Maureen Tygett and husband Jeff of Jackson.

Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, Alissa Vandeven, John, Ben and Laura Caldwell, Amy and Cathy Bradford, Colleen and Glenn Bradford, Shelly Weber, Bryan Wessell, Jessica Tygett, Sarah, David and Melissa Bradford; three great-grandchildren, Jenny Vandeven, Lydia Weber, Chase Wessell; and two sisters, Mary Nenninger of North Carolina and Bertram Murphy of Peyton, Colo.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Evelyn Holzum; a grandson, Mark Holzum; two brothers, Omer and Carlisle Bradford, and a son-in-law, Daniel Wessell.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, with Monsignor Edward Eftink officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with graveside military honors.

McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Immaculate Conception Building Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at mccombsfuneralhome.com.