Arlea Bradley was born in Venango, Nebraska on March 9, 1928 to Lawrence Albinas and Erma Elizabeth McQueen. She was one of three children, the only daughter, sandwiched between an older brother, Don, and a younger brother, Robert. Her family lived in the small town of Grant, Nebraska, which she loved, and where she made many lifetime friends. Arlea loved to tell the story of her youth when she was with a group of friends picking watermelon from a local farmer's crop. When the farmer started coming after them, the group fled quickly, and Arlea jumped a fence while holding a watermelon!! Arlea was an excellent student and always loved to read. Her parents moved to Denver, Colorado just before her senior year, and she lived with her friend Virginia's family so she could complete school in Grant.
After graduation, Arlea joined her parents in Denver and started working at Montgomery Ward department store as a records clerk. They lived in the downtown area, and it was during this time that Arlea was introduced to Hugh Bradley, a World War II veteran, high school math teacher and basketball coach. They dated for a year and married November 22, 1950.
Hugh and Arlea had two daughters, Mary Beth and Peggy. Arlea was a stay-at-home mother through their elementary school years, and was very devoted to her daughters. They have many happy memories of baking, playing in the snow, going to the library, reading together, and being loved and nurtured. Hugh and Arlea loved the mountains, and the family spent many weekends in the mountains enjoying their rustic cabin and fishing. Hugh was a successful basketball coach, and Mary Beth and Peggy attended the rival high school! Arlea began working again at Montgomery Ward when the girls reached secondary school.
As her daughters left home and married, Arlea found many interests outside working--she loved to cook, garden, scrapbook, travel, serve at her church, and spend time with her many friends. She was beloved by family and friends for her kindness, loving heart and wisdom. Arlea and Hugh adored their grandchildren, and traveled often to visit and attend sporting events, concerts, and school events. Arlea went to help when each of her 10 grandchildren were born, and the families loved her cooking and nurturing. Hugh passed away in 2005, and Arlea continued visiting family and serving her many friends. She always remembered birthdays and anniversaries, and loved sending Christmas cards. She never missed sending birthday cards to grandchildren, and even to her many great-grandchildren (there are now 38 of them!)
Arlea moved to Nevada when she began exhibiting signs of dementia. She spent eight years there, seven in the Merrill Gardens Siena Hills Memory Care Center, where she passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 4, 2021. The family is appreciative of the wonderful care she received there.
It is a joy to honor Arlea's legacy and remember her with great love, gratitude and admiration.
With love, Mary Beth Bradley Scow and Peggy Anne Bradley Camerino.
Arlea was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence A. McQueen and Erma Hamilton McQueen; husband Hugh H. Bradley; and brothers Donald and Robert McQueen.
She is survived by her daughters Mary Beth (Steven) Scow and Peggy (Mark) Camerino; grandchildren Steven (Miriam) Scow, Bethany (Brent) Schumann, Richard (Jennifer) Scow, Bradley (Julie) Scow, Shannon (Scott) Chapman, Christina (Nicholas) Bishop, Daniel (Suzanne) Scow, David Scow, Sarah Scow, and Paul Camerino; and 38 great-grandchildren.
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