(Newspaper obituary by Jim Keyworth, Rim Country Gazette Editor)

Timothy Allen Bradley, 66, who helped found the Town of Star Valley, passed away after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer on Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, 2009.

“He walked door to door getting petitions (for Star Valley incorporation),” his wife, Lesley, said. “We went to all the meetings and Tim started going door to door. This went on until we became incorporated.”

After the town was incorporated, Bradley served on the Architectural Design Committee and then the Water and Sewer Commission. He also served as president of the Diamond Star Water Coalition the past year.

Bradley was also an investor in and enthusiastic supporter of the Rim Country Gazette. He and Lesley delivered papers every week in their Star Valley neighborhood.

Bradley also helped found Friends of Ferals in conjunction with the Payson Humane Society (now the Humane Society of Central Arizona).

“A few of us met at the Country Kitchen and started this silly little group that was Friends of Ferals,” Lesley said. “We’re at 1,300 cats now, and Tim was so proud of that.”

The Bradleys moved their business, Threading Equipment Company, here from California in 2004.

“Out of 30 years of being together, this is the happiest we have ever been,” Lesley said. “This area has the very most amazing people. All of our neighbors keep bringing food, and my daughter said, ‘They don’t make neighbors like this, do they?’ It’s just non-stop.”

Lesley again emphasized Tim’s sense of humor and his love of life:

“He was such a strange bird. You know Tim’s sense of humor. I just want people to know how funny he was, that he always was telling bad jokes.

“He loved life so much. He drag-raced. He was a desert motorcycle racer. He raced speedway motorcycles. He loved to ski.

“Tim loved the ladies, and he tried to make every lady in the world feel special, but I know I was the most special. I’m so blessed to have had 30 years with one of the nicest, most wonderful men in the world.

“He was just so full of life. He was just a good man.”

Here is the official obituary submitted by the family:

Born to the late Herb and Dorothy Bradley on Nov. 9, 1942, in San Bernardino, Tim Bradley was raised in Manhattan Beach and graduated from Mira Costa High School in 1960.

His early days were devoted to motorized fun, campaigning Mopar drag cars and racing motorcycles. Later in life he devoted his spare time to local government roles in La Habra Heights, Calif., and in the incorporation of Star Valley.

Tim Bradley earned his living as a machinist, specializing in threading equipment, and selling and repairing industrial machinery in the Los Angeles area prior to relocating to Arizona. He treated his customers with great respect, enjoyed working alongside his family and friends, and shared jokes and laughter with everyone he met.

Tim Bradley is survived by his wife of 30 years, Lesley, daughters Heather Tate, Lisa Bradley, and Tiffany Evans, son Cameron Evans, sisters Cindy Miller and Carole Phillips-Jameson, and brother Chris Bradley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Humane Society of Central Arizona’s fund for a new animal shelter (www.humansocietycentralaz.org). The Bradleys' annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will be held in Tim’s memory on March 21 at their home, 214 Cornerstone Way, Star Valley, AZ 85541 (near Payson, Arizona).  Note that there is no mail delivery to that address.  Mail may be send to Lesley Bradley at HC5 Box 5, Payson, AZ  85541 or e-mail at chililadyAZ@aol.com.