George Tyson Bradley

George was born in 1929 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and was the eldest of six children. In 1930, George’s family moved to northern Saskatchewan and homesteaded near the village of Christopher Lake. Sixteen years later good fortune smiled, and his parents took the family on an epic road trip to move to Vancouver. They made a detour to the Okanagan Valley enroute, and teenaged George fell in love with this area at first sight.

At seventeen, George started his banking career with the Dominion Bank at a starting salary of $75 per month. After a brief “career change” working as a section hand on the railway near Three Valley Gap, George put his business suit back on and joined the CIBC where he enjoyed a successful 46 year career. He worked at many CIBC branches throughout BC before becoming the Branch Manager in Vernon; at the time of this promotion, he was the youngest branch manager ever appointed in BC by the company. After five years, George was promoted to manage CIBC’s main branch in Kelowna and led this operation for ten great years.

During his fifteen-year banking career in the Okanagan, George was very active in the communities he served. He was a director of the Chamber of Commerce in Vernon and Kelowna, a member of the Gyro Club’s Vernon and Kelowna chapters, a member of the Vernon and Kelowna Golf & Country Clubs, the yacht clubs, and curling clubs, was a director of the Vernon Winter Carnival, vice-commodore of the Kelowna Regatta, and was involved with little league baseball in both communities.

In 1980, George accepted another promotion to Vancouver as Assistant General Manager for CIBC’s BC Interior Region. When George retired in 1989, he promptly returned to Kelowna - the community he loved most of all. Soon after, CIBC talked him into returning to work as a Retirement Consultant in the Okanagan. He ended up working in this role for six more years, but he and Carol still found time to go RVing in the “Hobo Hilton,” often heading south in the winter months, and frequently connecting with their CIBC snowbird friends.

George was very proud of his 54 year membership at the Kelowna Golf & Country Club. Always a “natty” dresser, especially on the golf course, he was often teased about his resemblance to pro golfer Lee “Mighty Mex” Trevino, and soon earned the title “Mini Mex.” He would be honoured to know that the Club’s flag was flown at half-mast in the first days after his passing.

We will miss George dearly, including for all the nights when, over a dry martini and dinner, he would regale us with stories of his myriad adventures (including occasional “fish tales”) and, of course, the fascinating cast of characters he met along the way. We take comfort in knowing that George lived life to the fullest and now is in the big golf course in the sky, playing endless rounds of “nineteen” with his many golf buddies.

George is survived by his great love, wife Carol Sprecher, sons Douglas (Cindy), Lawrence (Jocelyn), Michael (Heather), daughters Melissa (Peter Rasmussen) McLean and Angela (Brad) Burnell, brother, Norman (Mary), sister Catherine, brother-in-law Richard Byden, and sister-in-law JoAnne Bradley. George also is survived by twelve grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by parents Frank and Margaret Bradley and three siblings Les, Mary, and Bob.

George’s family thanks his dear friends, notably Bob and Eileen Sallis, Bob and Vicki Bissillion, and Murray Joyce, for checking in and visiting with George regularly in his final years. We also thank Dr. Wickstrom and Dr. Swart, as well as the wonderful caring nurses and staff at the David Lloyd Jones Care Home where George spent his final months.

George will be inurned in the Legacy Gardens at the Kelowna Memorial Cemetery overlooking the Kelowna Golf and Country Club, where he plans to keep watch over his “nemesis,” the seventh hole. Be sure to look up and wave as you go by.

George’s celebration of life will be held at the Kelowna Golf & Country Club, at a date to be announced later. No flowers by request, please. If wished, monetary donations may be made in honour of George Bradley to the Kelowna Golf & Country Club’s Junior Bursary Fund. Donations can be made in person or by cheque mailed to the KG&CC 1297 Glenmore Dr, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4P4.