Charles Alan Bradshaw

Charles Alan Bradshaw, born August  27, 1959 in Grand Junction, Colorado to Charles Leroy Bradshaw and Loula Bradshaw (Massey) passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on March 16, 2013 at age 53.  Known as Alan to all who knew and loved him, he grew up on Piceance Creek and attended Rock School, a one room country school, for the first eight years. He attended high school in Meeker, Colorado where he particularly loved his art classes. After high school Alan moved to Denver, where he lived for a number of years and where he met his lifelong friend and companion Joe Bloxham. Joe and Alan moved to Alameda, California, across the bay from San Francisco, and lived there for several years while Alan attended California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC), and took classes in architectural design.  After the 1989 earthquake (World Series Quake) they packed up and moved to Paradise Valley, Arizona where they resided in a warmer clime for Alan, until his death. Always a perfectionist, Alan was a gifted and talented artist. He was a meticulous carpenter and wood carver. He designed and built furniture and specialized in remodels. His charcoal drawings were unique and special.  When faced with a design challenge he would sit back on his heels, have a cup of coffee, a cigarette, and come up with a workable solution. Alan spent many years and hours researching family genealogy, tracing both sides of the family from their arrival in America via England in the early 1600s to their migrations across America.  His research put him in contact with distant family across the U.S. and England.  The Massey side left Maryland and Virginia and eventually homesteaded the Unaweep Canyon in western Colorado and engaged in cattle ranching.  The Bradshaw side of the family, nephews of William Penn, crossed the Atlantic to settle the Penn Colony of Pennsylvania.  The Bradshaw family migrated from there to Kentucky, Missouri, and Westcliffe, Colorado where they supplied mining timbers for the booming Colorado mining industry. Alan was loved by a large family and many friends who will miss his ready smile, quiet conversation, dry humor, wit, and curiosity. He was always patiently willing to help anyone who asked or was in need, in spite of his own meager existence.  Alan was preceded in death by his father Charles.  He is survived by his companion Joe Bloxham of Phoenix, his mother Loula of Meeker, CO; sister Sharon and Glen Bradshaw-Bishard of Grand Junction, CO; sister Sheila and Frank Stewart of Meeker; brother Blaine and Sue Bradshaw of Craig, CO; and brother Harlan and Charlie of Douglas, WY.  Alan had four nephews, Guy, Jacob, Weston, and Justin, and two nieces Billie Sue and Katie. Memorial services will be held in Colorado and Arizona at a future time. Any contributions in Alan's name may be directed to the Point Foundation for the education of future scholars