James R. Bradshaw

James Ronald Bradshaw, son of the late Henry and Nettie (Etheridge) Bradshaw, was born on October 16, 1938 in Norwood, Missouri, and departed this life on September 22, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri following complications with heart surgery.
James grew up in Norwood most all of his life, and attended Norwood School, except when his dad was sheriff of Wright County and they had to live at Hartville. He loved playing basketball and fast pitch softball, and he graduated from Norwood High School in 1957.
He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and his one and only love, Patsy Sue Goodman, on May 15, 1960. They dated for five years until Patsy graduated, and they were married two days after graduation. Two children were born to this union, Rhonda Jo and Rusty. They raised their family in Norwood and were very happily married for 52 years.
James had been employed by Norwood School as a bus driver and bus mechanic since 1960, and he was currently working at the time of his death. James also worked in the family business as a mechanic and eventually purchased the garage in Norwood from his brother, Tuffy. James loved working at Norwood School. He has hauled several generations of families over the 55 years of driving, and truly loved the kids. He traveled on many trips for ballgames over the years.
James joined the Norwood Volunteer Fire Department in the late 1950s, and became Fire Chief in 1960. He oversaw many tragedies over the years in the community, but he loved helping people when they needed it most. He also helped form the Norwood First Responders. He retired as acting Chief in December of 2015.
James was an amazing husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved to help people. He worked so hard making a living for his family; working for the school all day, and after supper he would go to the garage and work into the night. He always put everyone elses needs first. It made him so very happy to spend time with his grandkids.
James gave his heart to the Lord at an early age and attended the Baptist Church as a child. He assured his family he was ready to go while in the hospital.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Pat Bradshaw; three sisters: Myrtle Stanley, Wilma Whitely, and Lola Schudy; and six brothers: Howard, Leo, Dan, R.A., Tuffy, and Jack Bradshaw.
He is survived by his daughter: Rhonda Coatney and her husband, David; his son: Monte Russell "Rusty" Bradshaw and his wife, Kathy, all of Norwood, Missouri; eight grandchildren: Keith Coatney and his wife, Jesi, Jamie Coatney and his wife, Angela, Travis Coatney and his wife, Mikyla, Emily Bradshaw, Taylor Bradshaw and his wife, Heather, Kylee, Braxton, and Greyson Bradshaw; six great-grandchildren: Jade, Ty, Shaylee, Laken, and Jase Coatney, and Fisher Bradshaw; one sister-in-law: Diane Cooley and Bill Bonnarens; many nieces, nephews, and countless relatives and friends, especially his truck stop buddies and a whole community who will truly miss him.


Visitation: Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.

Funeral Service: Monday, September 26, 2016 at 2:00 PM in the Norwood High School Gym, Norwood, MO.

Burial: Retherford Cemetery, Norwood, MO.

Memorial Contributions: Retherford Cemetery, Norwood Athletic Boosters, or the Norwood Fire Department c/o the funeral home.