Dorothy Jean (Van Gundy) Bradley, one of five children of Clemmon Olin and Emma Lucille (Martin) Van Gundy, was born May 1, 1924, near Fairfax, Missouri.
She attended school in Fairfax, which is where she graduated from high school.
Dorothy was married to Merlin Cooper, and this union was blessed with four children: Danny, Marcia, Joni, and Mike. The family lived in the Rock Port and Tarkio area in Missouri. The couple would later divorce, and in her later years Dorothy married James Bradley.
Always a hard worker and a housewife at heart, Dorothy also had various jobs in the community. She had worked at Betty’s Hilltop Café, Potasnick Construction, the Rock Port American Legion Club, and Trail’s End.
Dorothy was a member of Worldwide Church of God in St. Joseph, Missouri. She had many interests to fill her spare time. She enjoyed gardening and tending her flowers, and liked to fish and travel when she could. Dorothy was a great cook and could fix dishes ranging from rabbit or squirrel to chicken cacciatore. Of all her pastimes, her favorite by far was spending time with her grandkids.
After James’ passing, Dorothy made her home in Red Star at Rock Port. She later decided to move to Long’s Creek Assisted Living in Auburn, Nebraska. In January of 2018 she became a resident of Good Samaritan Society-Auburn. At both locations, she was loved for her glowing smile and gentle manner.
It was at Good Sam that she passed away on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. She had reached the age of 94 years, 4 months, and 18 days. In addition to her husbands, parents, and stepmother Dorothy Van Gundy, Dorothy was preceded in death by her brothers Dick and Bill Van Gundy, sisters Virginia Rhoades and Frances Millsap, son-in-law Gary Greene, and grandchildren Justin Kemmerling and Samantha Hawkins.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Danny and wife Sheila Cooper of Rock Port, Missouri, Marcia and husband Carroll Applegate of Inola, Oklahoma, Joni Greene of Rock Port, Missouri, Mike and wife Lisa Cooper of Rock Port, Missouri; 12 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
A graveside memorial and committal service, officiated by Rev. Sharon Schuster, was Sunday, September 23, 2018, at Hunter Cemetery near Rock Port. Rev. Schuster also sang and played guitar as a part of the service.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.