Kelly Fredrick Bradham

Kelly Fredrick Bradham, 61, Nevada, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., following a lengthy illness. He was born Dec. 8, 1946, in Nevada, to Joe and Sibbya Bradham.

Kelly graduated from Nevada High School in 1964. After graduation, he attended Fort Scott Junior College, Southwest Missouri College, Springfield, Mo., and the University of Arkansas. In the late 60s he worked for the Nevada Daily Mail in summers as a reporter. In 1972, he went to work fulltime at the Nevada Daily Mail as Sports Editor, retiring in 2002 due to bad health. He continued to write his weekly sports column until February 2008. Kelly was a lifetime honorary member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Missouri Press Association, Charter member of the Republican National Committee and Nevada Elks Lodge No. 564.

Survivors include his sister, Cam Owen and her husband Jim, Nevada; two nephews, Corey Owen and his wife Lisa, Independence, Mo., Chase Owen and his wife Deandra, Nevada; one niece, Elexa Owen, Springfield, Mo.; two great-nephews, Blake Butram and Colby Owen, Independence, Mo., and one great-niece, Kyrsten Owen, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mike Bradham.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, Aug. 25, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nevada, with Justin Hoye officiating. Interment will follow with an Elks service at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Nevada. Friends may call now and until 8 p.m., Sunday evening at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Those who wish may contribute to an athletic scholarship in his memory in care of Nevada High School Scholarship Fund.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.