Mark William Bradley

Mark was born October 23, 1944 in Longview, WA to Earl and Agnes Bradley. At the age of 7 he and his family moved to Eastern Washington where later he graduated from Toppenish High School, and attended Yakima Valley College. In 1966 Mark joined the United States Army as a Drill Corporal. He went on to be a Drill Sergeant at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Mark spent 15 months in Vietnam with Echo Company 2/35 Cacti, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars, Army Commendation with Valor Award, Combat Infantrymen Badge and many others. After his return in 1970 he was hired on by the Washington State Patrol.

March 9, 1971 he married Kim Bradley in Vancouver, WA. After they married, Mark and Kim moved to Olympia, Washington where he became a WSP guard for Governor Dan J. Evan. In 1972 he was assigned to the Washington State Patrol Academy. He was part of the 50th class of the academy and graduated fourth in his class. In 1973 Mark was assigned to the Chehalis attachment. 1977 Mark and Kim adopted their one and only child Christin. After ten years in the Chehalis attachment Mark made Detective. This was Mark’s calling in life. Being a detective fulfilled all his dreams and after many accomplishments, and setting the bar high for the rest to follow, he retired in 2004 after 34 years of service.

Mark wasn’t ready to sit at home so he took a legislative session security job at the state capitol in September 2004. After this came to an end he moved on to security at Camp Murray. Mark finally retired November 2009.

Mark was a devoted member of the Centralia Church of the Nazarene for 32 years. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl O. Bradley and Agnes Bradley and his grandmother Marie Oswalt.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years Kim (Centralia). His daughter Christin Calhoun (Boistfort) and son in law Rickey Calhoun: the son he never had. Mark had seven grandsons Colin, Skyler, Kameron, Kobey, Ryder, Royce and Sawyer. They made him feel young and he loved each one of them in their own special way. You could never tell him enough stories about his boys!

They family would like to thank Sergeant Ted Dehart who held our hands the whole time and all the other Troopers/Detectives who spent so many hours with Mark while he was sick. We would also like to thank our church family for all the love and support and most of all- the prayers.Thank you to Trooper Neil Weaver and his gracious wife Marcy Weaver. We love you both. Thank you to Liberty Country Place for all the respect and care you gave Mark during his time of passing.

Visitation will be July 7, 2011 from 12 to 5 pm at Sticklin Funeral Chapel in Centralia. A memorial service will be held July 8, 2011 at 2 pm at Centralia Church of the Nazarene 1119 West 1st Street Centralia, Washington with Military Honors.

Interment will be at a later date at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Remembrance may be made to the Mark W. Bradley Memorial Run, to help educate others for early detection of prostate cancer and melanoma at Bank of America.