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John Bradford was born in St. Louis on June 26, 1951 a son to Marguerite (nee Montgomery) and Phillip Bradford Sr. He died suddenly in Springfield, MO on October 11, 2013. He is survived by two sisters: Jean (Wayne) Berry, Fenton, and Joan Bradford, Festus; one brother: Phillip “Phil” (Lisa) Bradford, Jr. Festus, he was a loving uncle to: Ryan (Tammy) Berry, Kurt (Kathy) Berry, Patrick (Ruth) Donohue, Kyle (Elizabeth “Beth”) Bradford, Kayla (Tyler) Thomas, and Krysta Bradford. He is preceded in death by his parents and a nephew Gavin Bradford Donohue. He worked for over thirty years at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, MO, most recently as a senior keeper working especially with the zoo elephant herd. He was renowned in his knowledge of elephants. He graduated from Festus High School where he was an all-district football player. He then went on to receive a degree in Wildlife Conservation and a gradute degree in Finance from Southwest Missouri State. A life long student his interests included: sports (especially the St. Louis Cardinals), music, physical fitness, hunting, conservation, and the family farm in Hematite. Rev. Kenny Qualls, Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Arnold will officiate the services with burial to follow in the Bethlehem Memorial Gardens. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to: Friends of the Dickerson Park Zoo, 3043 North Fort, Springfield, MO 65803 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38101,