Kathleen Bradbury La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Barcelona. Arriving in Canada with Jennifer. St Peter's Basilica, Rome. More European travels.
Kathleen Bradbury Bob, Robin, and Kathleen at the Baldpate Inn Kathleen with P.E.O. convention souvenirs Estes Valley Chamber Singers.
Kathleen Bradbury Mary Kathleen Hamilton Black was born on May 6, 1934 in Anthony, Kansas, to Benny Max Hamilton and Katheryne Baylor Work Hamilton. Kathleen was the oldest of four children and grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, where her father was a high school physics teacher and coach and her mother worked at the First Presbyterian Church. Kathleen was the salutatorian of her high school class and married her high school sweetheart, Robert Black, after her second year at the College of Emporia. Together they raised four children. Her husband worked as a teacher, school administrator, and consultant for the Missouri State Attorney General. They moved numerous times for employment and education, living in Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Ohio, and Utah. Kathleen was an active member in church and P.E.O. Sisterhood each new place and made many treasured friends. In her last hometown of Estes Park, Colorado, Kathleen belonged to the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies and P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AV. She sang in the church choir, Estes Valley Chamber Singers, and Oratorio Society of Estes Park, and said that singing with others was the most enjoyable thing she knew. An avid reader and lifelong learner, Kathleen took classes and studied Shakespeare's plays and classical composers. She was active in Presbyterian Women's Circle and Bible Study groups, enjoyed operas in Central City and concerts at the Rocky Ridge Music Center. In recent years she traveled with family to Canada, Italy, Greece, France, Croatia, Montenegro, and Spain. She especially loved the cathedrals and would sit in the back and take in the architecture and atmosphere. Kathleen is survived by her children, Robin Black, Kathleen Bradbury (Carl), Karen Johnson (Mark), and Jennifer Black, brothers Rayner Hamilton (Pat), Alan Hamilton (Susan), and Robert Hamilton, grandchildren Daniel Bradbury, David Bradbury (Anna), and Max Johnson as well as a nephew and nieces. Kathleen was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend. We will miss her for the rest of our lives.
Robert Hamilton This is a photo of Kathleen with me on the front steps of our house. Kathleen was 14 when I was born, so naturally I don't have any firsthand memories about her childhood. But I do have some very early memories of activities we did together when I was very young. She and I had a sort of a game we played when I was VERY young. I remember playing it while lying on our parents' bed, their bedroom being the place where my crib was located. Kathleen did most of the talking because I wasn’t talking much yet. We each had some chewing gum -- I can’t imagine why I was trusted with gum at such an age -- and we would compete to see who could roll his/her bit of gum into the smoothest, most perfect ball. We would work on it with our tongues, then take it out to compare, whereupon Kathleen would pronounce hers to be smoother and more perfect, and I would say “Nuh-uh!” Complicated game.
Robert Hamilton This is a photo of Kathleen when the family took her to Emporia, Kansas, for her freshman year at the College of Emporia. I was four years old at the time. I remember that she wanted to introduce me (or perhaps "show me off") to her new dormitory friends, but I unaccountably took a shy turn and refused to go with her to meet them. Instead I went and hid among some evergreen trees. I have no idea what came over me, but I remember that Kathleen handled it well and quietly accepted that her baby brother was not going to go along with her plan. She was always very accepting of people as they were and never was one to try to mold folks to some other way of being.
Kathleen Bradbury This shows Mom reading to Daniel who would listen as long as the reader's stamina held out. She was always happy to oblige. They re-enacted this pose over the years!
Karen Johnson Mom held a chicken at my house! Emmeline was her name, a flock favorite. Max is holding Mary.
Robert Hamilton A Musical Tribute
I don't have a photo to share. But, Kathleen and I share a lot of background! I was born and raised in Emporia, Kansas, living a block east of College of Emporia where I also took violin lessons. When she learned this about me, she immediately adopted me as a long-time friend! We met at Chamber Singers concerts, and at Community Church. We'd me...
Kathleen Bradbury My first contact with Kathleen was when I visted her home in Liberty, Missouri in 1984. A year later I came back from England and she became my Mother-In-Law when I married her eldest daughter, Kathy. From the very first day of our meeting, over 36 years of life, to the very last time we spoke she was never anything but kind and considerate in my presence. I have many, many happy memories of life in her company and when I think of her I see her smile, hear her voice and her laugh and I miss her. She always referred to herself as my American Mom, and she was. It might sound soft coming from a 59 year old man but it meant a great deal to me that she accepted and approved of me and even loved me. I loved her too. Carl Bradbury
My childhood was such a long time ago, but what I remember most was that Mom was at home and I loved that she was always there. As a child I was quick to anger and mouthy. Mom was patient and kind, even when I did not deserve it, but it was not until I was an adult that I worked hard to change my behavior. It was her example that guided me in how I...
Kathleen Bradbury Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies memorial
I first met Kathleen in P.E.O. She was the epitome of what a great P.E.O. sister should be! She possessed so many talents and was gifted musically. But most of all, she always expressed a loving concern for her P.E.O. sisters and everyone else with whom she came in contact. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Blessings and peace to Kathleen'...
Karen Daugherty I was very fortunate to have known Kathleen through church activities and P.E.O. She has been a wonderful friend, mentor and confidant. Kathleen was known for her nurturing manner, unfailing support and generosity of spirit. I have kept many of the wonderful notes she sent to me over the years. I have included a few photos from P.E.O. activities, including when she received a turkey serving dish (related to her insistence that we all sing the “Turkey Song” at Thanksgiving time), when she passed the P.E.O gavel to me and two photos from a P.E.O. convention we attended together. She will always have a piece of my heart. My heartfelt thoughts are with her family. May you find comfort and peace in the wonderful memories of a life well lived.
I have been thinking a lot about Kathleen since her birthday was last Friday and then Mother's Day on Sunday. She always sent cards and wonderful notes to her friends and P.E.O. sisters. What she would never do is tell us how old she was. I was actually surprised that her birthday was listed in her obituary! I miss her as do so many others whose...
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