ALEXANDER — Surrounded by loved ones, Darrell Gene Bradshaw passed away at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City on Sept. 5, 2016, after a sudden heart attack in June and a battle with undiagnosed cancer. Darrell was the fourth child born to Elgin and Mary (Butler) Bradshaw in Big Spring, Texas. He moved to Kansas at the age of 12 years where he remained, graduating from Great Bend High School. It was his junior high that he met his first wife, JoAnn Archer. They were married on Nov. 13, 1976. They had one daughter, Christina, and were married 24 years before JoAnn passed away on Feb. 3, 2000. Darrell married Melissa Morgan Mantz on Sept. 3, 2005.
Darrell worked for KMW in Great Bend as a welding supervisor and robot programmer. He worked in the same building KMW occupies in Great Bend for more than 20 years. It was often said he was listed as a fixture when the building was sold between companies.
Darrell was a part of many families. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Melissa of Alexander; two daughters, Christina Bennett and husband Roy of Great Bend, and Alyse Mantz of Everett, Wash.; mom, Lora Raybern of Seward; seven brothers, Kenny Bradshaw and wife Cindy of St. John, Jesse Bradshaw of Lubbock, Texas, Cary Bradshaw of Cheyenne, Okla., William Ingram and wife Carol of Cheyenne, Okla., Lew Raybern and wife Amy of Seward, Shannon Raybern and wife Julie of Great Bend, and Don Raybern of Radium; three sisters, Mary Ann Bramlee of Andrews, Texas, Laretta Lee and husband Shorty of Cisco, Texas and Patty Raybern of Great Bend, two brothers-in-law, Eddie and wife Linda Archer of Valley Center and Lanny Morgan of North Platte, Neb.; two sisters-in-law, Theresa Depperschmidt and husband James of Sylvia and Carla Raybern of McPherson; parents-in-law, Lance and Gloria Morgan of Alexander; as well as numerous nieces and nephews who he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, JoAnn; dad, Sam Raybern; parents-in-law, Bill and Margaret Archer; and brothers, Lonnie Bradshaw and Jimmy Raybern.
He touched many lives and was the kind of person who would make you smile just by walking into the room. He was a prankster, was witty and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Wade Russell officiating. Inurnment will be in Golden Belt Memorial Park. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are requested to Camp Hope, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home**
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 8, 2016
