"To the family of Reba Marie Bradbury, I am sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing that God is "near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34;18) With sympathy,"
In loving memory of
Reba Marie Bradbury
January 11, 2018 - September 21, 2013
Reba Marie (Jay) Bradbury, 83, died Saturday, September 21, 2013, at Bishop Drumm Care Center, in Johnston, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at St. Therese Catholic Church, in Kansas City, MO. A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow mass. Inturment will follow lunch at the Resurrection Cemetery, in Kansas City. Memorials may be directed to St. Therese Catholic Church Memorial Fund. The Anderson Funeral Homes in Marshalltown has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com
Reba was born Sept. 14, 1930 on a farm in rural Albion, IA to Ralph and Nora Elizabeth Bessie (Drew) Jay. The family moved to State Center in 1936. Reba attended State Center Community School graduating in 1948. She played basketball in high school and on a traveling team for a year after high school. She also attended Iowa State College for one year before entering a training program for flight attendants in Kansas City, MO. Upon completion of the program, she began a career as a flight attendant for Braniff International Airways that spanned 37 years. Through her work she traveled extensively and lived in the Fairfield, CA; Minneapolis, MN area; Dallas, TX area; and Kansas City, MO. While in California, Reba also served as a flight attendant on commercial planes that were used to fly U.S. military troops From Travis AFB into Vietnam. She later became a flight attendant supervisor, base instructor-manager and director of scheduling for Braniff overseeing all flight attendants.
Reba married Willard Brad Bradbury January 27, 1973 in State Center. The couple made their home in the Dallas and Kansas City area. He preceded her in death on March 3, 1996. Reba was an active member of St. Therese Catholic Church in retirement, overseeing the Helping Hands Program and also serving as a travel guide for several trips. She was a member of the St. Therese Altar & Rosary Society, Mission Sewing, VFW Post 7356 Auxiliary, Clip Bs-Dallas (former Braniff flight attendants) and the Dallas-Fort Worth Model T Club.
Reba is survived by her sister, Mary Goecke of Marshalltown; a sister-in-law, Mary Jay of Waterloo; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Howard; a sister, Ruth Ann Anderson and brother-in-law, Joel Anderson; a brother-in-law, Louis Goecke; and a niece, Pam Schau.
Tributes
"I will miss Reba and her ceaseless organizing of funeral dinners, senior trips and Harvsters projects. God has a great organizer on Heaven'sstaff now."
"Reba was a very blessed person of Our Lord. She had all the capabilities to master all the ministries she served. She was truly one of Our Lord's soldiers. I am so thankful to have shared some of my life with her. It was truly an honor. She made life better for all. Clarann Lawson "
"Reba was such a gentle person. I got to know her as she worked most all of the funeral luncheons at our church. God bless her, may she rest in peace. "
"Reba jay was the heart of Braniff International Airlines for me and so many more new "hostesses" in the late 60's / early 70's. she was a strict disciplinarian and her high standards to which she held us was the reason Braniff Airlines had no peer then or now. She was always fair We saw her sense of humour SELDOM but when it did appear, she laughed as hard as any one. I have thought of her often and with great fondness I just hope the folks in Heaven show up on time and are not over their weight maximum!!!"
" I know Reba lived the life that God wants for all of us and she will be ever happy in Heaven. I myself will miss her as I have thought and prayed for her often. She slowly became my friend when she could figure me out ( a new young'un amongst the A & R group). She would always come my way to find out how my girls and I were doing. I will now like to think that I have a special friend looking out for me each and everyday! God Bless You Reba! "
"We will celebrate the life of Reba. She was a model of selfless living. Her life was dedicated to serving other people. She led, organized, and worked at so many different ministries. One of my special memories of Reba is her positive approach to everything. She saw positive in everyone. She will be missed by many but I'm sure God is happy to have her home."