Sherman, Texas -- Walter Edward "Ed" Bradshaw Sr., 69-year-old Sherman resident, died October 26, 2025, at his home in Sherman, Texas, surrounded by his family, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Family night will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 p.m., at Trinity Baptist Church, located at 2627 N. Loy Lake Rd, Sherman, Texas. The funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., also at Trinity Baptist Church, with Pastor Jason Anderson officiating. Burial will be at West Hill Cemetery, 1304 West Lamar St, Sherman, Texas.
Ed Bradshaw was born on January 24, 1956, in Denison, Texas. He was the son of Alfred & Carline Bradshaw. Ed was named after his great-grandfather, Walter Adams & grandfather, James Edward Stephenson. In honor of Ed’s namesakes, he named his son Walter Edward Jr., and the honor continued with his first grandson being named Walter Edward Bradshaw III. (Life goes on).
Ed graduated from Sherman High School in 1974 and attended Grayson County Junior College, and had the privilege of seeing all three of his children graduate from high school and college.
Ed’s lifelong dream was to be able to attend the University of Texas at Austin, but his dream never came true. His children's education was very important to Ed. He was so proud that his daughter, Susan, graduated from Texas A&M-Commerce, his son, Eddy Jr., graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and his daughter, Tookie, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin & Texas Wesleyan University Law School at Fort Worth.
Ed married Gail Baggett on March 12, 1977, and began to raise their three beautiful children, Susan Marie Beaver (childhood name Susie), whose birthname was given by her father, Walter Edward Bradshaw Jr. (childhood name Little Eddy) birthname was given by his father, and Mary Gail Coones (childhood name to present is Tookie). Ed nicknamed his baby girl Tookie at birth, and her birthname was given by her mother.
There are no words to describe the love Ed had for his family. You could see the radiant beams of love come from his face when someone would mention to him what a great family he had. The pride for his family was planted so deep in his heart.
Ed was an excellent student; learning just came naturally to him. He was the class Valedictorian in the 8th grade.
He was an excellent athlete in all sports he played, was awarded the Golden Gloves in boxing, and was a member of the Junior Sheriff Posse in the early 70s. He rode his horse with great pride.
He was a great fan of NASCAR for so many years. His family and friends have so many good memories from the times they enjoyed at the NASCAR races. When they got home from one race, they were already planning for the next race for the following year.
Ed was able to check many items off his bucket list, but his 4 favorite bucket list memories were: going to Vegas with Gail, attending PBR two times, one with Eddy Jr. & one with oldest granddaughter, Jerica & her husband, Cameron, and attending the World Series with his son-in-law, Brent Sr., and 2 youngest grandsons, Brent Jr. & Brady.
His favorite football team was the Texas Longhorns. His favorite movie was Secretariat.
Ed started working in 1971 at 15 years old in construction. In his early years, he was named Lumber Yard Manager of the year and at that time he was the youngest person in the state to earn that title. Ed has worked on many aspects of construction.
Ed got his insurance adjuster's license, and he and Gail worked several major hurricanes and floods.
In 2015, Ed and Gail started their own business, Bradshaw Builders. Starting a new business is a lot to take on, but Ed & Gail pulled up their bootstraps and got it done. Their business was growing so fast that Ed felt he needed more help and brought in his son-in-law, Bryan Beaver, in 2021. Ed made a great choice. Bryan has learned so much and will be able to carry on the family business.
Bryan will miss riding in the truck with Ed, discussing jobs and life in general. Ed also brought on his granddaughter, Ashlei Nelms, to help with the business, and she is doing an awesome job. (Ed "Pops", nickname for Ashlei, is his little buddy).
In 2009, Ed fell in love with Show-Pigs after his grandchildren, Trey & Morgan, started showing pigs. In 2012, he started Bradshaw Family Show Pigs, which continues today. Over the years, Bradshaw Family Show Pigs had multiple top-placing pigs. In 2017, one of his biggest accomplishments in the show pig business was when a pig raised by the Bradshaw Family won his class at Houston. Ed was a big supporter of youth in agriculture.
Surviving are his wife, Gail Bradshaw of Sherman, Daughter, Susan Beaver and her husband, Bryan Beaver, of Sherman, Son-Eddy Bradshaw Jr. and his wife, Susan Bradshaw, of Sherman, Daughter, Mary Coones and her husband Brent Coones, Sr. of Bells, Brother, Larry Joe Bradshaw of Ft. Worth, and 9 Grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters on the way.
Ed was preceded in death by his mother, Carline Bentley, Father, Alfred Ray Bradshaw Sr., grandfather, James Stephenson, grandmother, Loevia Stephenson, grandfather, Homer Bradshaw, grandmother, Hazel Bradshaw, great grandfather, Walter Adams, great grandmother, Ada Harris, great grandfather, Roy Nichols, great grandmother, Clara Nichols, great grandfather, Willie Coonrod, great grandfather, James Edgar Stephenson, great grandmother, Donnie Stephenson, sisters, Rheasha Halston, Edie Ricketts, Sisters, Regina Duckworth and Stephanie Gilcrease, and bbrother, Alfred Ray Bradshaw Jr.
Pallbearers are Walter Edward Bradshaw Jr. (Eddy), Walter Edward Bradshaw III (Trey), Bryan Beaver, York Graham, Steve Nelson, and Stephen Ticknor.
Honorary pallbearers are Brent Coones, Sr., Cameron Fisher, John Nelms, and Zach Bushey.
The family appreciates memorial donations to the People Who Care (PWC) organization, in honor of Pops. This organization was near and dear to Ed’s heart because it helps the youth in agriculture in Grayson County. It’s for the Kids! PWC mailing address is 229 W. Washington, Sherman, TX 75090.
