Douglas Vernon Bradford

Douglas Vernon Bradford was born on 12/22/1938 to Gordan and Ruth Bradford at their family home in Loveland, Colorado. He passed away, surrounded by his loved ones on 1/6/2025 in Farmington, New Mexico.
As a teen, Doug was a little mischievous. He started racing a stock car at Englewood Speedway under his friend Bob Eagan's name because he wasn't old enough to compete. You can imagine his parents surprise when he won the race and climbed out to kiss the trophy girl. This started his lifelong love of racing and all things that go fast. After graduating from West High School in 1955, he took a job for the Rio Grand Railroad in Denver and realized that punching a clock for someone else wasn't for him and started his lifelong career of wheeling and dealing in the auto salvage and equipment business, thanks to Gary Tuten!
Doug moved to Cortez, Colorado in 1961 to help run a salvage yard working for Ed Novatny and started a family. Doug, Debbie and Derrall were born.
In 1966, Doug and his family moved to Kirtland, New Mexico where he ran Parts Unlimited. Three years later, Danny was born. While running Parts Unlimited, he met his lifelong friend Brian Moore at Moore's Texaco in Farmington.
In 1971, Doug owned Farmington Car Dismantlers, and his son Donny was born in 1974. By 1976, Doug owned Four States Auto Mart until it shut down in 2002. Many friends and memories were made in that shop.
In 2004, Doug and Lonny Brown opened B&B Truck Salvage. Doug never stopped wheeling and dealing. Even a few days before his death, he had deals going on.
Doug's passion for Stockcar, Nascar and Drag Racing left many memories of all the friends and family he made through the years. Bo Reno, Pistol and Frank Mangino were some of his closest friends, and when you were a friend of Dougs, you knew it!
In 2007, he met Rhonda Johanson and they married in 2012. With Rhonda he found a new purpose in life. She was the best caregiver his kids could ask for. As Doug told her in his last breath. 'I love you so much, you're the best thing that ever happened to me.'
Doug is preceded in death by his Father Gordan, Mother Ruth, Brother Dennis, and his previous wife Paula. He is survived by his wife Rhonda and his sister Beverly(Merv).
His family also includes, son Doug(Beverly), daughter Debbie(Brian), son Derrall(Linda), son Danny(Sondra), son Donny(Lora) and son-in-law Boof.
Step-daughter, Shirley(Anita), step-daughter, Chevonne; Grandchildren Danielle(August), Ryan(Brandy), Paul(Camber), Machell(Curtis), Michael(Lacey), DeLacey, Jacob, Brandy(Isreal), Dillon(Kate), Audri, Tamyra and Mike. Great Grandchildren; Darren, Bailey, Gage, Gavin, Paislee, Olive, Eloise, James, Violet Mae, Haley, Addison, Keegan, Sebastian, Violet Rae, Kaytlin, Hunter, Mary Alice, Davidson, and Penelope. Great-Great Grandchildren; Kingston and Koi. Niece; Melissa, Great nephews Spencer(Ana) and Riley.
As Doug would say, "Stand on it! I made it to the finish line.'
Services will be held at the Elks Club, 801 Municipal Drive, Farmington, New Mexico on January 25th, 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, you can make donations to The Elks Club Scholarship Fund in honor of Doug.
Potluck after service To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Douglas, please visit our Tree Store.