Barbara Jean Bradley

     Barbara Jean Bradley, age 87, of Vestaburg, MI, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at her home on the farm.
     Sunset Funeral Services will be held at SWJ Emerald Hills, 10470 Neff Road NE, Edmore, MI, at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, October 24, 2024, with Mr. Jim Parrish and Mr. Tom McNerney officiating. A private family burial will take place at Richland Township Cemetery, Vestaburg, MI. Visitation will be held from 3:30 P.M. until the time of the service at the venue.
     Barbara was born in Sumner, Michigan on September 27, 1937, the daughter of Jason Delos and Babe Doris (Lang) Phillips. She graduated from Alma High School with the class of 1955. On December 20, 1959, Barbara married James Bradley in Alma, Michigan. They were blessed with twenty-seven years of marriage prior to his passing on November 30, 1987. On February 1, 1991, she married Albert Christensen at her home in Vestaburg. They were blessed with twenty-seven years of marriage prior to his passing on August 7, 2019.
     Instilled from a young age with an extremely hard and passionate work ethic, she helped her parents around their farm, graduated with a nursing degree and spread her compassion for 22 years, owned and worked on J&J dairy farm she shared with her husband, and then onto to turn her love of dairy to open an ice cream parlor that she ran for 35 years called Farmer in the Dell. 
     She was a kind and loving soul, always giving to others and expecting nothing in return. She was a true Christian woman. She loved to bake and cook, and there are many recipes that will go down in family history as the bees knees, can’t get anything better, from anywhere else—such as her chicken noodle soup, her chocolate pudding, Apple, rhubarb, and pumpkin pies, her pecan sweet twist rolls, chicken dumplings and gravy…among countless others. The Betty Crocker gene was strong with her. She could be caught watching TV from time to time, loving her old classic films or newer aged romances and often be found flipping through a magazine while doing so.
      She loved to read, write in her journals and send cards to people just because. She spent evenings rocking in her chair while watching the birds feed from their feeders she always made sure were full, or to see the sun set as the day comes to an end.
     Barb radiated light and positivity into any room or conversation she presented in. She was always helping or supporting someone or something in some way, shape or form. She never complained. A quote directly from her states that “Life is hard! There will be and are many storms. Don’t sit around and have a pity party. Make something beautiful out of it”. Barb sure made a beautiful life out of the 87 magical years she had here on this earth with the many friends and family, who loved and cherished her soul completely.
      She is survived by daughter Janene (Hal) Clark of Vestaburg, MI; daughter-in-law Linda (Neal) Osbeck of Mt. Pleasant, MI; step-daughter Peggy Christensen of Jenison, MI; step-daughter Pam Dodge of Jenison, MI; three grandchildren: Logan (Tracy) Clark, Morgan (Jacob) Vallejo, and Kaleb Osbeck; two step-grandchildren: Mitchell Dodge, and Michelle Dodge; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim Bradley, husband Albert Christensen, son Jason Bradley, step-son Christopher Christensen, her brother Harold Bruce (Betty) Phillips, and her sister Marion Elizabeth (Phil) Howe.
     Memorials may be made to Rock Lake Christian Assembly 7389 Vestaburg Rd. Vestaburg, MI 48891. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, Michigan.