Gerald Bradley

Gerald Bradley was born April 29, 1929, in Chicago’s Lying-In Hospital to Sophie (Daugherty) and Earl Bradley. He grew up in Petros, Tennessee, where he lived with his grandparents, Martha Belle (Armes) and Garvin Bradley. He joined the Navy in 1946 and served for three years, after which he returned to Petros. Shortly after, he began courting Faye Patrick and the two eloped and were married in September 1950 in Richmond, Indiana.

He worked for several years at the Oak Ridge, Tennessee nuclear facility. Jerry, Faye, and their young children, Ronald and Pamela, joined the Catholic Church in 1952 and were founding members of Blessed Sacrament Church in Harriman, Tennessee. Shortly after that, they began an adventure moving west, where they lived in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. Ultimately, the family settled in Chicago, where they became members of St. Benedict Church on the north side, welcomed their third child, Mary, and Jerry embarked on a 30+ year career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Following his retirement, Jerry and Faye returned to Tennessee where they lived in the town of Winchester.

He was a skilled and decorated marksman who competed nationally for the Federal Reserve, a marathon runner, a lover of country music, an avid reader, and, above all, a man of deep faith. Jerry loved his family and was very proud of their accomplishments. He enjoyed talking about his life in East Tennessee and growing up in a coal-mining town that was home to Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. He had a great sense of humor, and anyone who knew him well knew of his love for this favorite food, okra.

He passed away peacefully on Jan. 26, 2021, in his assisted living apartment at the Village at Victory Lakes in Lindenhurst, Illinois, where he had lived since 2019. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, his wife, Faye, and daughter, Pamela (Gerry) Labedz. He is survived by his twin brother Earl Bradley of Xenia, Ohio, brother Jack Bradley of Inverness, Florida, son Ronald (Beatriz) of Mount Prospect, Illinois, daughter Mary (Paul) Todoric of Gurnee, Illinois, grandchildren Jennifer Bradley of Chicago, Melissa (Andrew) Butkus of Chicago, Kara Todoric of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Brian Todoric of Gurnee, Illinois.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 6401 Gages Lake Rd., Gurnee, IL, 847-918-0600. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, those wishing to attend must RSVP by visiting this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKJFVpfi0gX8Pk9K9PnVTt49D7pEhpY_xuEwq3XAZGFx8mvQ/viewform

by Noon on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Interment will follow in Winchester, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Blessed Sacrament Church, 535 Margrave Dr., Harriman, TN 37748, 865-882-9838.