Mary Elizabeth Day Bradbury

Mary was born on October 15, 1932, in Cleveland Ohio. She was the only child of William Rufus Day and Helen Fischer Day and the great-granddaughter of U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rufus Day. She loved her teenage years in Grosse Ile, Michigan and graduated from Grosse Ile High School in 1950 with a class of 27 students. Nicknamed “Powerhouse” while there, she enjoyed cheerleading, and was a secretary and treasurer in student council. In September of 1950 Mary fulfilled a life long dream and entered the University of Michigan. She graduated in 1954 with a B. A. in Speech, minors in English and Social Studies and a teaching credential. All who knew Mary witnessed her deep love for the Michigan Yellow and Blue, and she evened traveled back to Ann Arbor later in her adult life.

After marrying John I. Bradbury on April 30, 1955, Mary said she officially entered the Armed Forces, as a U.S. Navy spouse. She and John were initially stationed on the east coast, where their three sons, David, William and John were born. As is typical for Navy families, they moved from coast to coast, living in Monterey California from 1964-1966, then in Rhode Island, until they finally settled in Huntington Beach, California in 1969.

Mary thoroughly enjoyed her volunteer work as scorekeeper and Women’s Auxiliary President with Seaview Little League, and selling programs for the Edison High School Football program. However, one of her proudest personal accomplishments was overcoming and returning from a difficult manic-depressive episode to become a successful legal secretary, provide for herself and her sons, and care for her father on her own. Her lifetime love of the written word became a reality by taking writing courses and chronicling her life’s journey. Her most treasured memories were celebrating her sons’ high school and college graduations, welcoming three daughters-in-law into her family, and the birth of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary is survived by her sons Dave Bradbury of Goleta, California; Bill Bradbury of Los Angeles, California; John Bradbury of La Mirada, California; 10 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. Her husband of 20 years, John I. Bradbury, precedes Mary in death.

All her grandchildren will lovingly treasure their Gramma B in their hearts. Her children and all that knew her will remember her poise, perseverance, sweet sense of humor and generosity she showed to all those she touched.

Memorial donations in Mary D. Bradbury’s name may be sent to:

The Michigan League, Ann Arbor, Michigan

https://uunions.umich.edu/donate/

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