Loula (Lola) Ruth Bradshaw passed away on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, at Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker, Colo. She was 83.
Lola was born the daughter of Weston and Nellie (Foy) Massey of Gateway, Colo., on Oct. 28, 1931, in Grand Junction, Colo. Lola attended schools in Gateway, Nucla and Naturita.
On April 12, 1949, she married Charles L Bradshaw. They lived and ranched in the Mesa/Blue Creek area until 1951, when they moved with their two young daughters to Piceance Creek to help run Lola’s father’s ranch on Ryan Creek. After a few cold winters, Weston decided to sell the ranch and moved back to Gateway. Charles and Lola choose to stay on Piceance Creek and moved to the Boise Ranch on Black Sulfer Creek.While living there, they added three sons to the nest.
The family spent most summers on the mountain, where Lola helped Charles build fence until haying season and then it was back to the ranch where she would feed the haying crew, often lunch in the hay fields. In 1962, Charles went to work for Equity Oil Co. and later moved the family to the Equity oil camp also on Black Sulfer Creek.
In the early 1970s, Lola moved to Meeker, where she could keep an eye on the boys while they attended Meeker schools. During this time, she also commuted between Meeker and Grand Junction while getting her beautician’s license. Later, after Equity Oil Co. shut down, Charles also moved to Meeker to be with the family.
On Piceance Creek , Lola was an active member of the ladies club where they would plan the many events that took place at the Rock School, such as Easter dinners, Christmas parties, dances, box socials and many other events. She was also a 4-H sewing leader.
Lola was a wonderful cook and loved to bake. Her family loved the days when she made bread and her spudnuts and pecan/cinnamon rolls.
She was an active member of the Meeker Ladies VFW Auxiliary for many years. She marched in, rode the VFW float and later when she couldn’t walk much, she would ride her electric scooter in the Fourth of July parades.
After it became impossible for her to get around by herself, she decided it was time to make the move to the Walbridge Wing. She could often be found in the sunroom working on a puzzle. She loved to visit and did not know a stranger. She loved playing bingo, singing, the times when she and Ruth got to help Jean cook, keeping an eye on Judy so she didn’t spill something, working with the sewing group, listening to the different people who came to the Wing to read to them, making the newcomers feel welcome and the great staff that took care of her. She enjoyed watching the landscapers as they turned the “ New Digs,” as she called the new Pioneers Medical Center, into a beautiful garden. She was looking forward to watching the moving of the gazebo from the old wing to its new home.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Charles; her son, Alan; and brother-in-law Dale Lewis.
She is survived by: her sisters, Westa Lewis and Rita (Bud) Foy of Grand Junction; her brothers, Barge (Shirley) Massey of Tucson, Ariz. and Oscar (Janice) Massey of Whitewater, Colo.; her daughters, Sharon Bradshaw (Glen) Bashard of Grand Junction and Sheila (Frank) Stewart of Meeker; her sons, Blaine (Sue) Bradshaw of Craig and Harlan (Charlie) of Kaycee, Wyo.; her grandchildren, Guy Bradshaw of Craig, Billie Sue (Russel) Maulding of Sundown, Texas, Jacob (Leslie) Stewart of Grand Junction, Katie (Lee) Sampson of Craig, Weston (US Marines) and Justin Bradshaw of Kaycee, Wyo.; her great-grandchildren, Kayla and Lexie Bradshaw, Colton and Triver Maulding and Brooklyn Stewart. She was looking forward to meeting her two new great-grandchildren due to be born in October. She also leaves behind her many cousins, friends and extended Wing family.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. On Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, at the Canyon View Vineyard Chapel, 736 24½ Road in Grand Junction, Colo., with internment at the Vets Cemetery at 3 p.m.
