James Bradley

Funeral Recording "https://audio.funeralrecording.com/embed/90eacc5e-4e84-11ee-af8f-16cf116f09e5"

James Bradley, our sweet and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, peacefully passed away on August 27, 2023, after a hopeful weeklong fight to stabilize his heart. He lost the battle and succumbed to that one final heart attack. He was 93 years old.

Jim was still very independent and self-sufficient at his passing. He worked every day on his computer and loved creating slide shows and putting them to music. Jim recently returned from an amazing 8-day trip to Canada with his daughter Dianne. He was anxiously engaged in capturing wonderful memories and history from his early adult years with his sweetheart Betty in Fort Macleod, Alberta.

Jim was born on March 28, 1930, in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire Scotland to his father John Bradley and his mother Mary McFarlane. Jim was always seeking adventure and drawn to defending his fellowman and protecting the law. At age 18, he served in the British Army for 2 years. At age 20, his sense of adventure and the excitement of the “Wild West” led him to pursue his dream of joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) force.

He moved to Canada in 1952 where he vigorously trained for and joined the RCMP—a dream come true! He was stationed in the little town of Fort Macleod, Alberta where he met Betty Eileen Dickie, the belle of Fort Macleod. Jim and Betty were married in March of 1955. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 2, 1955.

Jim served as Chief of Police in the small town of Pincher Creek where his first daughter Geraldine was born. In 1956, Jim moved his family to Edmonton to join the Edmonton Alberta Police Force where he served in the Patrol, Criminal Investigation, and Identification Sections. His second daughter Dianne and his son Jimmy were born in Edmonton. Jim was always a loving husband and a doting father. He was so proud of his family.

As his 3 Children grew a bit older, Jim left Canada to pursue law enforcement in Santa Barbara California. While there, his interests evolved to cinematography. He studied cinematography at the Brooks Institute of Photography. He later landed a significant position as a technical cinematographer with the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He remained in that profession for 30 years until he retired in 1995. 

Jim was always a huge football fan supporting the Edmonton Eskimos. He was introduced to a whole new level of football fandom with the Texas A&M Aggies. He would be a die-hard “Gig-em Aggies” fan for the remainder of his life. We can only hope that continues in his new heavenly surroundings.

In addition to raising his 3 children, Jim also lovingly played a huge part in raising his granddaughter Melanie and great-granddaughter Ashlynn.

In early 2016, Jim and Betty moved to Sandy, Utah to live with their daughter Dianne. They developed a great love for Utah and the beautiful mountains.

Jim is survived by his daughter Dianne Nilsson (Jeff); son Shoryu/Jim Bradley (fiancé Lacey), granddaughters Melanie Person (Byron), Jessica Muelleck (Nik), Whitney Marcum (Matt) and Jillian Miles (Mike); great-grandchildren Ashlynn Ford Haynes (Quin), Brooklynn Person, Kaidynn Person, Kate Muelleck, Bradley Muelleck, Andrew Muelleck, Ryan Muelleck, Oliver Marcum, Rose Marcum, Anders Marcum, Remi Miles, and Peter Miles; great-great-grandson Zalen Haynes.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents John Bradley and Mary McFarlane, brothers Jackie and Tom, sisters Catherine "Irene", Mary, dear wife Betty, daughter Geri Bradley, and great-grandson Lars Marcum.  

A viewing will be held on Friday September 8, 2023, from 9:45-10:45 am followed by funeral services at 11:00 held in the Granite View Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9880 South 3100 East, Sandy Utah. The interment will follow at the Granite Cemetery (2969 East 9800 South).

The family expresses appreciation to the Intermountain Medical Center Cardiac Care Team, Cannon Mortuary and others who so lovingly cared for Jim.