Montana (Tana) Daisy Bradley
Montana (Tana) Daisy Bradley was the first child born to Daisy C. (Ostrum) and Charles E. Flory on November 10, 1924 in Sheridan, Wyoming. She passed away on November 27, 2018. During summers as young children Tana and her brother, Chuck, loved spending long vacations with their father at his homestead in Southern Montana. There they rode horses, helped in the garden, searched for arrowheads, and enjoyed the company of their beloved father.
She started school in Montana, returning to Sheridan to begin third grade at Taylor School. As a young girl Tana’s mother gave Tana her first library card to the local Carnegie Library. She considered this gift to be one of the most precious of her lifetime since she spent many hours at the library during her school years and was an avid reader until experiencing sight problems in her later years. Tana graduated from Sheridan High School in 1942. Twenty plus years later, she returned to school earning an Associate of Arts Degree from Sheridan College while raising her children.
Tana worked at Tudor Cleaners before marrying Robert (Bob) L. Bradley on April 7, 1947 in Miles City, Montana. They moved to North Dakota to start their married life together where Bob worked road construction and Tana worked in a grocery store. They remained in North Dakota for several years and their oldest child was born in Dickenson. Five other children followed, all born in Sheridan. They built a home in the Big Goose valley to enjoy country living and raise a few cattle. Later, after moving back to town she would comment on how much she missed seeing the birds in the country and hearing their songs. Bob and Tana were married just a few weeks short of 64 years before his passing in 2010.
Tana worked mostly in the home during her marriage and became an accomplished gardener. She canned plentiful fruits and vegetables for her family’s table. There was always an abundance of flowers in her garden including her favorite pink tulips, numerous colored iris, and pink and red peonies. As a seamstress she sewed many of her own clothes as well as wedding dresses for both of her daughters, a christening gown that several granddaughters and a great-granddaughter wore, many Cabbage Patch doll outfits, and numerous items for her family or to give as gifts. Tana was an expert knitter, learning while working at Sit and Knit; she even knit Barbie clothes for her granddaughters and countless mittens were knit and donated to local mitten trees. Additionally, she was skilled at needlepoint and counted-cross stitch creating many exquisite pieces that were framed and hung in her home or given as gifts. Let’s just say she liked to stay busy.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church for nearly seven decades. Tana belonged to a women’s circle group and for many years served as her group’s devotion leader, completing research necessary to add interesting insights to her presentations. She very much enjoyed the fellowship she had with these women who became some of her closest friends.
The Bighorn Mountains were a favorite place of Tana’s, a place where she found tranquility and solace. Summers, she looked forward to attending Family Camp in the mountains with her sisters.
Tana was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert L.; sons Robert C. and Kevin (Cheryle); and brothers Charles T. Flory, and Robert and Carl Franklin. She is survived by her children David Bradley, Penny (David) Barkan, Susan (Stephen) Woody, Dan (Chris) Bradley; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; sisters Wyoma Olver, Donna Jack, Ines Olver, and Daisy (Robert) Rader; and numerous nieces and nephews.
On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 7 pm, a Rosary will be recited at Holy Name Catholic Church. Memorial services will be held Monday, December 3, 2018 at 1 pm, at Champion Funeral Home with Brad Kremensek officiating. Interment will follow in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery next to her husband and oldest son.
Memorial contributions may be made in Tana’s name to the Sheridan County Historical Society and Museum at 850 Sibley Circle, Sheridan, Wyoming. Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.
