Velma Earlene Bradley

Velma Earlene Bradley, 91, of Fort Collins, Colorado passed away on April 3, 2025, at Lemay Columbine Health and Rehab Facility after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born January 10, 1934, in Mountain View, Missouri to Alba J. Belew and Ona Fay Reese. Iin 1939 the family moved to Gould, Colorado and then to Walden, Colorado where Earlene graduated from Jackson County High School. She met Jim Bradley in Walden, and they were married in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1952 and were married for 43 years until Jim passed away in 1995. They raised three children in LaPorte, Colorado.

Earlene eventually became employed at Colorado State University and set up the library in the Atmospheric Science Department. She worked in the library field from 1962 to 1992 and also earned her B.A. in English in 1987. In retirement she became a published author and was most proud of her book "Timber Times and Tales-An Early History of Gould, Colorado".

She was self-taught in most everything she accomplished and was an excellent knitter, seamstress, cook, baker (among her many talents) and always finished what she started. She enjoyed reading, traveling, music and loved dogs (especially huskies). Earlene had a strong faith in God. She was a wonderful, loving mother and loved her grandchildren very much. She enjoyed spending time with her other family members.

In addition to her husband, Jim, she was preceded in death by her sister Juanita Johnson, Thelma Kennedy, Vena Higbee and brother Donald Belew. She is survived by her children Jim Bradley (Christy), Mona Carr (Doug) and Barbara Helzer (Tim); sister-in-law Roberta Belew; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff, nurses and volunteers at Columbine Health and Rehab facility for their kind, compassionate care, as well as Pathways Hospice during her final days.

A graveside service will be held at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 10:30am.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.