Be open to your dreams, people. Embrace that distant shore. Because our mortal journey is over all too soon.David Assael
MARILYN SKITES BRADLEY 1945-2022
It is with great sadness that the family of Marilyn Bradley announces her passing on Easter Sunday morning, April 17, 2022. Marilyn battled heart disease and passed peacefully with her nephew Doug Skites at her side.
She is survived by her brother Ronald Skites of Salome, AZ (and St Maries,ID), Ron's three sons Walter,Douglas,Daniel as well as great nieces and nephews. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, James and Minnie (Heljman) Skites, brother Donald Skites and husband William (Buck) Bradley.
Marilyn was born in 1945, grew up in Cascade, MT and moved to Great Falls for high school. Upon graduating she moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a travel agent. This piqued her interest in travel and she applied and was accepted into the highly competitive American Airlines Stewardess College in Ft. Worth; graduating in 1966, her first assignment was at Dallas Love Field.
In 1968 Marilyn transferred to San Francisco to continue her flying career until 1979. Marilyn had many friends and became interested in skiing. On one of her ski trips she met “Buck” Bradley. It wasn’t long until they were a couple and were married in November 1970 at The Episcopal Church in Mill Valley, California. Marilyn and Buck wrote their own vows, promising each other to be loving partners as they journeyed life’s highway together, a promise that lasted their lifetimes.
During the early years of their marriage Buckdesigned and built many homes in San Francisco's Marin County. Marilyn enjoyed expressing her creativity by designing kitchens and became partners with Buck in Tudor Kitchen Design. During these years they became avid sailors and enjoyed tennis. They became members of the San Francisco Yacht Club where they made lifelong friends.
They remained in San Francisco until 1998 when they moved to Nashville where Marilyn returned to American Airlines working in the Sabre Division. This was a great move as they both loved Nashville and were close to Buck’s family hometown of Paducah. There Marilyn joined Buck in his love for the game of golf, making many new friends at the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club. Marilyn was also a member of the Junior League of Nashville. They were very happy together.
After Buck’s death in 2008 Marilyn moved with her devoted Jack Russell Terrier, Duchess, to Sarasota. There she continued with The Junior League, and also reestablished her membership with the Kiwi Club where she reunited with many of her flight attendant sisters. Marilyn will be laid to rest with her furry friend, Duchess, next to her husband Buck in Paducah, Kentucky. Graveside services will be held May 20th at 3 pm at the Oak Grove Cemetery, Reverend Charles Uhlik presiding.
In lieu of flowers Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to:
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org
The Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate
The animal shelter: https://bestfriends.org/donate
