William Jesse Brady, 76, known by various names, including W.J., Jay, Bill, Dub and Deacon, quietly passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, at his home in Show Low. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Show Low Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1401 W. Deuce of Clubs, where the visitation and viewing will begin one hour prior. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Show Low Cemetery.
He was born June 18, 1939, to the late Jesse James Brady and Bessie Mae (Hall) Brady.
Bill attended school in Show Low and Snowflake, but didn’t graduate because he was too busy getting on with his life. He did receive his GED at a later date. He tried being a sailor in the Navy, cowboy, papermaker and a 10-wheel truck driver. He didn’t find his life’s calling until he learned to drive an 18-wheeler. It became his love when those wheels were attached to a log truck, which he drove for 36 years.
His other love was his family. He met Dee in 1961, when they were 21. He was so shy that they didn’t become friends until early 1962 and were married on Sept. 7, 1962. Two sons and two daughters were welcomed into their home during the next seven years. They are, in order of their birth, Shannon, Patrick, Katie and Christian.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, “Dee” Gretchen Elizabeth (Wetherill Mahan) Brady; his children, Shannon Marie (Ruben) Brady-Otero, Patrick James Brady, Mary Katherine “Katie” Brady and Christian T. Michael William Brady; his grandchildren, Erica Michelle, Brittany Marie, Joshua Lee, Michael Patrick Jesse, CharlieAnn Lanae, Mary Emily Rebekah, Gladys Jewel, William Elmer, Mitchel William, Tori Sean and Timothy James; and his six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his former in-laws, Alex Quintana, Dana Wood and Carol Murphy.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
