Constance Lynette "Coni" Lewis Bradley 1946 - 2009

Coni Bradley, 63, of Great Bend, died Nov. 13 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born May 22, 1946, in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to nuclear physicist and aviator Valta Glen Lewis and his wife Hazel Frances Henderson, both of Concordia pioneer families. The family also lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and in 1956 settled in Dayton, Ohio.

Coni graduated from North High School in Denver, Colo., in 1965. A talented singer and guitarist, she appeared on the nightclub circuit under her stage name, Misty, for many years. In 1984, she earned her LPN degree from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, and in 1986, she earned her RN, having received the highest score in the state of Kansas on her license exam. She was a gifted nurse, and worked at multiple facilities in the course of her career. Coni’s compassion was evident in her work with psychiatric patients at Larned State Hospital, where she worked with the most challenging chronically mentally ill patients at the highest level of acuity. Coni’s friends in the recovery community were many. Coni found peace in attending the First United Methodist Church. Coni’s love for cats inspired a large collection of crystal cats.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth “KC” Bradley, of the home; her son, Daniel J. Lewis of Indianapolis, Ind.; brothers-in-law Len (Tina) VanValkenburgh, Sumter, S.C., Kenneth “Polly” VanValkenburgh, Canastota, N.Y., sister-in-law Lorinda VanValkenburgh, Canastota; uncle, Orville Henderson, of Concordia; nephews Sean A. Lewis and Marc E. Lewis, Dallas, Texas, Brian E. Lewis and niece, Heather M. Lewis, Omaha, Neb.; first cousin Virginia Huscher Hathorne, Concordia, who loved and cared for her as a daughter after the death of Coni’s mother; and numerous other family members and friends.

Coni’s wit and generous spirit will be missed by her friends and family. Her love of cats expressed her gentle nature.

She was preceded in death by her mother in 1963, her father in 1999, her brother, Val Lewis, Omaha, in 2000, her best friends the Siamese cat Jobie and Spencer the Heinz 57 dog.

Coni’s ashes will be scattered at a favorite spot near Georgetown, Colo., and a portion interred in the Lewis family plot at Nelson Cemetery, Concordia. A memorial service at Great Bend will be held at a time to be announced.

Memorials may be made to the Coni Bradley Memorial in care of Charter Funerals.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Charter Funerals*
2115 Washington
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-793-6161
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 17, 2009