On Oct. 2, 2009, at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center, Bradley Hepworth passed from his mother's loving arms clutching around him into his Lord's open arms. He could not fight off the pneumonia this time.
Bradley was born Feb. 23, 1961. We were blessed with sunshine in our lives. He was born with Down syndrome and love in his heart. What we thought would be a challenge and a lesson in humility was actually a blessing from God. He was born to Nubern and Bonita Mason and his brother, Rodney. He always had a smile on his face and led a simple life, a lesson we all could learn from.
Bradley started classes in special education at the Buhl schools and later transferred to Twin Falls. He participated in Special Olympics until his health declined. He loved going to the Center for Independent Living each day and being with all his friends. He learned to sign language and helped deliver meals to the shut-ins. He could be a clown and keep everyone laughing.
He had a special memory of people he met and places he went, all of his life. His Grandmother Feckner and he traveled every year to California and he cherished those trips and the time spent with his grandparents. When they passed away, his mother and his Aunt Helen continued the traveling tradition, which he looked forward to. Always a highlight was when they took him to New York City, where he stood and looked up at the big buildings and rode in the yellow taxi cabs.
His special friend of 30 years is Amy Reed. They graduated together and have celebrated each other's birthdays and holidays and the annual trip to the Filer Fair. He loved going to the Sun Valley condo, but after two or three days, it was time to get back to school and to his routine and friends. Bradley blessed us with 48 years of love, much longer than the doctors had predicted at birth. Although his verbal skills were limited, he could always find other ways of communicating and making you understand.
Church and prayer were very important to Bradley. He never wanted to miss church, but if he did, he would listen to the service on the radio. How much he really understood about prayer, we will never know, but it was important to him to have a prayer in church and on his birthday and we know that God understood him.
On Saturday, his television was turned to Channel 4, all day, just so he wouldn't miss Lawrence Welk; then he would spend the hour singing with them. You could hear him clear through the house. Many hours of the "Sound of Music" permeated our home every month. He was very patriotic; sometimes he would get confused as to which side his heart was on, but it didn't matter, just that it was important to him to salute the flag. Thursday was the day for cleaning the house and Bradley would stay home from school and help his dear friend Agnes clean, and he would dance around the house and make phone calls. He loved her dearly and they had a special relationship.
In 1977, John Hepworth and Bonita were married and Bradley became the sunshine in John's life. John loved him dearly and their bond was very special. After Bradley's grandpa died, John said, "Now you can call me papa." With John's health failing, Bradley became his caretaker and loved every minute of it. Rodney, Bradley's brother, was the shining light in his eyes. He knew Rodney could fix anything and he loved to call Rodney on the phone. His other love was for his nephew, Eric. He loved spending time with him and loved for him to come home from Boise and go out to eat with him. When his father died, it was a difficult time for Bradley. He loved him immensely.
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"My dear son, Bradley, you have left an enormous hole in my heart; we had a special bond. Just with a look at each other, we knew what each other was thinking. You had a smile that could brighten a room and a sincere hug that could warm my heart on a cold day. We have been so lucky to have you in our hearts. Bradley, you are a part of who we are, each of us, and we are so thankful we had the opportunity to know and love you. You will always be remembered and missed. Mama."
"God take my son. He is a very special one."
Bradley is survived by his mother and stepfather, Bonita and John Hepworth; brother, Rodney Mason; nephew, Eric Mason; aunts, Helen Meyer, Loretta O'Connell of San Francisco, Calif., and JoAnne Feckner of Crawfordsville, Ore.; stepmother Georgine Mason of Twin Falls and her children, and Patty Knefel; cousins Robin and Debbie, Randy, Debbie, Jacki, Sara, Jennifer, Tyson, Brody, Casey, Bradley, Katherine and Carl; John's children, Charlie ( Margaret) Hepworth, Tanya Craig Storti, Janet (Lynn) Askew and Jeff ( Leslie) Hepworth and their children; and great-aunts, Bertha Haynes of Twin Falls and Christina Dunn of Jerome. Brad's special furry friends, Dutchess and Princess, are missing his teasing them and throwing their ball.
Preceding him in death are his grandparents, Nubern and Grace Mason, and Charles and Elisabeth Feckner; his father, Nubern Mason; uncles, aunts and cousins; and special school friends Peggy Sturgeon and Eddie Capps.
Our deepest appreciation goes to all the staff at the Center for Independent Living, Jeanine, La Rae, Lisa, Michelle, Margo and Linda. He loved you all dearly along with his special friend, Stacy Johns.
Funeral services were held on Oct. 7 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Twin Falls, Idaho, with Pastor Larry Vedder officiating. A private family burial service at Sunset Memorial was held after the church service.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Southern Idaho Learning Center, 564 Shoup Ave. W. in Twin Falls, or to Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Bradley's memory.
