Judy E. Bradford, 85, of Olathe, Kan., passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 13615 W. 92nd, Lenexa, KS 66215. Burial in Resurrection Cemetery.
Judy was born December 9, 1940, in Detroit to Clifford and Eleanor (Jeneke) Elliott and graduated high school in St. Louis. She met her Arthur "Jim" Bradford in early 1965 and the two were married on February 19, 1966 at Holy Trinity Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents. Judy is survived by her husband Arthur "Jim" Bradford; three children, Allison (Bill) Koch, Jim (Aisha) Bradford, Ericka Bradford; brother Bill Elliott; seven grandchildren, Cole (Alena), Corey, Ben, Daniel, Gunner, Elise and Kyra; and many extended family and friends.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Olathe Junior Service League and was a devoted Olathe Public Schools volunteer.
A stop in San Francisco, while Jim was stationed there in the Navy, came before their planted their roots in Kansas City in the late 60s. After a few years in Olathe they built their forever home in what would eventually become part of Lenexa, living there for more than 50 years. Their home in Hidden Valley was a second home to so many and Judy loved her role as second mom to countless of her children’s friends through the years. That’s where she shined. They weren’t friends, they were family.
Even when it came to her career, it was about family. They weren’t co-workers, they were family. From her time at Selby North American Van Lines to her time at United Bakery Equipment (UBE), she forged lifelong relationships that transcended the 9 to 5. Her UBE family meant the world to her.
Her second career started with the Olathe Public Schools in the early 2000s and that’s when she found her people. Her time at the North Lindenwood Support Center brought so many wonderful people into her life and, more importantly, put her into the lives of so many.
Post retirement was spent volunteering for the Olathe Public Schools in so many different roles. It also brought weekly games of canasta with THROB (The Happy Old Retired Broads), something she planned her life around in the later years.
Then there were her grandchildren. Oh, how she loved her grandkids. Cole was the first, then came Corey. Ben and Daniel entered the picture when Allison married Bill. While officially step-grandchildren, they were her grandchildren. Period. The next wave of grandchildren – her littles – came with about 15 years ago with Gunner, Elise and Kyra. Her love for her seven grandchildren was immeasurable.
Simply put, Judy’s family was her life. Period. And, of course, her dogs, including her little Ellie. She will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.