Pearl Beatrice (Coghlan) MARTIN BRADLEY

BRADLEY, COGHLAN, MARTIN, SWAN, SAYERS, HUDGENS, CONNELL, TACKETT, YOUDA, BALL, JAESCHKE, VOLKMER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/24/2007 at 01:14:20

Pearl Bradley, 80, of Spirit Lake, and formerly of Fort Dodge, died Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at the Hilltop Care Center after more than a 10 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. At her passing, she was surrounded by loving family members. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 20th at First Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Fagerburg officiating. Burial will be in Corpus Christi Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. today at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home.

Pearl is survived and will be greatly missed by her four daughters; Gerri Martin of Lusk, WY, Donna Martin of Spencer, Beth (Mychael) Swan of Farmington, MN, Bette (Terry) Sayers of Hollywood, FL; grandchildren, Suzi (Jim) Hudgens of Albuquerque, NM, Jaimie (Mike) Connell of Scottsbluff, NE, Sara (Brian) Tackett of Farmington, MN, Tim Swan of Chicago, IL, Jordon Swan of Farmington, MN; 4 great-grandsons; 1 great-granddaughter; 5 step-children, Deb (Alan) Youda of Des Moines, Michelle (Carl) Ball of Fort Dodge, Jean (Butch) Jaeschke of Moorland, Robert (Ralyn) Bradley of Madrid, Betsy (Kelly) Swanberg of Fort Dodge; 5 step-grandchildren; 2 step-great grandchildren; brothers, Marlin of Webster City, Alfred, Garlin and Harvey, all of California; a sister, Nora of California; two special sister-in-laws, Rosemary Volkmer of Rockville, MD, Mary Bradley of Fort Dodge; and numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother, and her 2 husbands.

Pearl Beatrice Coghlan was born October 3, 1926 in Ferris, OK, the oldest of 7 children born to Clarence Joseph and Annie Essie Viola Martin Coghlan. Her early years were spent in Oklahoma and Texas. In 1945 she graduated from high school in Paris, Texas. The Coghlan family moved to California just after WWII. It was there Pearl met Merle Millad Martin who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They were married September 30, 1947 in Reno, Nevada. After Merle was discharged from the Navy, he, Pearl, and their oldest daughter, Gerri, returned to his family farm south of Renwick, Iowa. It was on the farm that Donna, Beth, and Bette were added to their family. Merle preceded her in death on November 13, 1969, leaving Pearl to raise their teenage children. After completing a degree at Iowa Central Community College in Eagle Grove, she was employed by Umthun Trucking in Eagle Grove.

On April 27, 1974, Pearl married Edward Bradley in Fort Dodge where they lived. She assisted in raising his two youngest children as her children became adults. During this time Pearl worked for DART. She retired from Hotline at the age of 62 because of her worsening health. Ed preceded her in death on April 29, 1997. Pearl enjoyed gardening, spending time outside in the sun, traveling and spending time with her various grandchildren. She forever missed the warmer climates of her youth. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

Copyright, The Fort Dodge Messenger
1/19/2007