Everett Bradford

Everett Clyde Bradford, "Brad," age 84, of Palisade, passed from this life on June 24, 2019 at Hope West Care Center. He was the youngest of 6 siblings, born January 19, 1935 to Jesse and Pearl (Vowell) Bradford in Lazear, Colorado. He attended Clifton, Colorado schools and left high school at the age of 16 to join the Navy, where he served as a hospital corpsman from 1953-1956. He married Kristina Faye Forsman in December 1957. He worked as a construction engineer for the Rio Grande railroad for 8 years and helped to oversee building the spur from Crescent Junction to the potash plant north of Moab from 1961-1963. He quit the railroad to be able to spend more time with his family and worked at various construction companies, including United Sand and Gravel, until he and a partner formed Asphalt Construction in 1972. Later he started "Brad's Dozer Service," contracting out to the BLM as well as private parties. He loved his work building ponds, roads and doing general land management, and didn't fully retire until 2017 right before he was diagnosed with lung cancer. In his later years, he authored three books recalling his and his family's lives as they struggled through the depression years and beyond, beginning in the panhandle of Texas and migrating to Western Colorado. He will be loved and remembered for many things, including his humor and generosity. He never failed a family member or friend in need if it was in his means to do so. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kristina, of Palisade, son Dr. Bill (Jan) Bradford of Lakewood, Colorado, daughter Lisa Bradford of Waco, Texas, son Dr. John (Dr. Donnell) Bradford of Lakewood, Colorado, 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.