Terry Lou Bradbury

1940 - 2011

Terry Lou (Norris) Bradbury, 71, died unexpectedly at her sister's home in St. Helens, Ore., on March 8, 2011. She was recovering from surgery and was preparing to return to her family property in Salcha.
Terry was born to Raymond and Emma (Amberson) Norris on Feb. 16, 1940, in Douglas, Ariz. She was an only child. Emma and Raymond divorced early in their marriage. Emma then married Johnie Harrel and welcomed three children into the family. Buddy Harrel of Fairbanks, Charlene Faye Smith of St. Helens and Sue Harrel of Anchorage (deceased).
Terry married Keith Mable in 1955 and had two children, Clayton Bradbury of Montesano, Wash., and Kimball Allred of Fairbanks (deceased). The marriage lasted a short time and Terry later married Jack Owsley. They had two children, Tracy Lynn Bell of Portland, Ore., and Kelli Ginther of Butte, Mont.
Living out a lifelong dream, she packed her belongings and left Washington state for Alaska. She arrived in Tok in 1967 where she worked for Tok Lodge as a waitress. It was here she met her future husband Forrest Bradbury. They were married on April 13, 1969, in Fairbanks.
Having a husband in the construction business created an opportunity for Terry to travel and be part of her husband's work which allowed her to see the Alaska wilderness which she loved. She was an avid hunter and fisherwoman, many times out-shooting and out-catching her male counterparts.
While working with Forrest in the early stages of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline construction, she began to make cookies for the men setting up camps, it wasn't long before she was known as "the cookie lady," a tradition she kept until her death.
In 1973, Forrest and Terry purchased a homestead in the Salcha area on the Tanana River. It was here they built their log home, cutting and peeling each log themselves and carving out their sanctuary from the land they purchased. Terry was encouraged by her husband to become a pilot at age 50 and purchased her first plane. They kept the plane a beautiful runway he built for her. Forrest was killed in an accident in 2001 on the family property.
Terry is survived by her son, Clayton and Julie Bradbury of Anchorage; stepsons, Dennis of North Pole and Doug and Heather Bradbury of North Pole; daughters, Tracy Bell of Portland and Kelli Ginther of Butte; stepdaughters, Carolyn Lincoln of Salcha, Kathy and Rick Hoyt and Kelli Utecht; brother, Buddy and Sandy Harrel of Fairbanks; sister, Charlene and Al Smith of St. Helens; along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at Salcha Baptist Church.