Dr. O. Leon Bradshaw
Ottie Leon Bradshaw left us on Oct 2, 2018 with his two children at his side. He was the youngest of seven children, born to Viola Mae and Ottie Frisco Bradshaw on Valentine’s day 1939. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two siblings, Ralph Bradshaw and Wayne Bradshaw, and his nephews Ron Bradshaw and Kent Hunter.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jane Dosch Bradshaw, his children Brad and Kelsa, and six grandchildren. He was a strong believer in the importance of education, the first in his family to get a college degree and was fortunate enough to have the father of “client centered therapy”, Carl Rogers, as his professor. Leon became a master therapist in his own right and said of counseling, “when you love what you do for a living, it’s not really work.” He loved most of all helping people. It was common for people in the community to comment to his children that “your dad saved my life”.
Leon lost his father at the age of two. Growing up he told his brothers and sisters that he wanted his children to have the fatherly love he never experienced, and to escape the poverty within which he was raised. He was true to his word. Through his love, guidance, hard work and stressing the importance of education he forever changed the trajectory of his family.
Leon worked as a professor at MSU from 1969 until his retirement. He also maintained a private counseling practice until he was 77 years old. The most important thing in life he would tell you, relationships. He was loving, caring and a counselor to the end, his last words on this earth were to his two children, as he slipped in to unconsciousness, “you two listen to each other.”
Memorial services will be at Greenlawn East Saturday October 13, 2018 at 3:00 PM. Family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:00 PM prior to the service. A Celebration of Life Dinner will follow from 4:00 to 7:00 PM off site. Interment will take place at a future date with immediate family. While Leon loved plants and flowers (and of course trees) and those are appreciated, donations in lieu of flowers are also appreciated: Dr. Sudhof’s Research Lab, Stanford University, Lorry I. Lokey Research Building SEM1, 265 Campus Drive: Room G1021, Stanford CA, 94305. More information is available with Greenlawn East.