Clayton Dale Bradley, 77, Adrian, MO, passed away Saturday, November 11, 2017. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian with visitation from 2:00-3:00. Memorial contributions may be made to Adrian Elks Lodge #2864 or Settle's Ford Range, Adrian.

Dale was born March 29, 1940 in Windsor, MO, the son of James Clayton and Theresa Mae (Henderson) Bradley. Dale enlisted in the Army after high school and was a missile crewman responsible for delivering the ordinance to the underground silos in Missouri and Kansas. After being discharged from the Army he began working for ATT/Southwestern Bell, retiring in 1999.

After retiring he worked for Bass Pro, Remington, and Stren. Dale was a lifetime member of the NRA, supported Missouri Conservation, and was also a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He enjoyed taking his granddaughter, Katy, to Bass Pro, the Findley River and Missouri Department of Conservation events in the Springfield area. Dale's favorite niece, Angie, convinced him to grow a pony tail in the late 90's and it was one of his trademarks.

Dale was an avid outdoorsman and loved everything to do with hunting, fishing, and the outdoors in general. He had his own outfitting/guiding company for a time in Springfield MO in the 1980's. In 2002, Dale's old bud, Jim Crust, introduced Dale and Gwen. Dale and Gwen married in 2005. He also took a strong interest in high school sports, and was a fan of the Adrian Blackhawks. He spent a large amount of time driving the school bus, whether it was to school itself or to various games or 4H activities for the boys. He once swore that he would never drive or ride on the FFA bus again because of the shenanigans of the FFA kids.

Because of Dale's decline in health in the beginning of 2015, he was a resident of Adrian Manor. The staff of the manor became like family to Dale, and he would never miss an opportunity to compliment the residents and staff (especially the ladies when they brought him coffee from the kitchen instead of the machine.) They cared for him throughout the time he lived there with compassion.

Dale is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Bradley; his brother, James Gale Bradley and wife, Linda; daughter, Robyn Elaine Bradley; son, James Dale Bradley and spouse Jeff Leishing; five grandchildren, Katy Mae, Maddy Grace, Natalie, Stratton, and Alex; niece and nephew, Angela Renee Bradley Hampton and spouse Guy Hampton, and Andrew Ryan Bradley; five stepsons, Andrew, Christopher, Nicholas, Henry, and Ivan; great nieces and nephew, Austin Bradley, Cordelia Mae Hampton, Annalynne Marie Bradley.