Norma Ray Bradshaw

Norma Ray Bradshaw returned to her heavenly home on August 1, 2022 at the age of 89 years old, after a life devoted to her family, community, and to her Lord. Known to most as Dolly – she was more aff ectionately known to her family (and eventually many others) as Gama. Born August 28,1932 at her family home in Rayland, Texas, her family moved to Farmer’s Valley, Texas (a small community between Chillicothe and Vernon) when she was a small child. Dolly graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1949 and married her high school sweetheart, F.D. Bradshaw in 1951. They both attended Abilene Christian College. Dolly was blessed with a large and loving family; she helped raise her two children (as well as her grandchildren) with patience, discipline, and humility. She taught them to read, write, solve complex equations, bake and cook for those they love, as well as how to sight read and sing a cappella music. She was kind and soft-spoken, but never afraid to express her opinion – usually through a pointed facial expression. An educator at heart, Dolly taught in the Chillicothe Independent School District for her entire career and touched the lives of many individuals. Upon her retirement, she committed her time to homemaking (and ensuring F.D. kept things running smoothly at the Lumber Yard.) Dolly was an avid gardener: pictures that her husband took of her prized roses and irises are displayed in photographs around various businesses in the Chillicothe area. Most importantly from the very beginning of her life, she dedicated her existence to God. She encouraged her family to explore the beauty of the gospels, taught Sunday school, and rejoiced in her faith daily. While Gama will be dearly missed by her loved ones, they will celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her creator.Dolly was preceded in death by her husband, F.D. Bradshaw, in February 2022, her parents, Raymond and Veva Bailey, her brother Bennie Jo Bailey, as well as an infant daughter. She is survived by her son Steve (Cherri) Bradshaw of Chillicothe, daughter Jan Beaver of Austin, grandchildren Sally (Aaron) Reeves of Vernon, Elly (Gordy) Gonzales of Vernon, Holly (Chad) Cox of Tell, Byron Bradshaw (Ryan) of Austin, Bailey Beaver of Quitman, AR, and Brielle (Jonathan) Beaver-Ou of Austin; and great-grandchildren Tyler, Landry, Taylor, Lavery, Lux, and Colee; sister Glenda (Walt) Cudmore of Chillicothe; brother-in-law Glen (Mary Dean) Bradshaw of Wichita Falls; and sister-in-law Yvonne (Gene) Fulford of Athens. Visitation with the family was Wednesday, August 3 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Texas and services will be Thursday, August 4 at 11 a.m. at the Chillicothe Church of Christ. Pallbearers will be Dolly’s grandsons-in-law: Aaron Reeves, Gordy Gonzales, and Chad Cox; and her great-grandsons: Tyler Reeves, Landry Gonzales, and Lavery Gonzales. Honorary pallbearers will be Boyd Green, Wayne Haynes, Mario Guerra, Mario Guerra, Jr., Rick Jump, Jonathan Ou, and Ryan Shoop.In lieu of  owers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to the Chillicothe Church of Christ, the Westview Boys’ Home in Hollis, Oklahoma or the Tipton Children’s Home in Tipton, Oklahoma.Online condolences may be made to the family at www.sullivanfuneralhomevernon.comNorma