Obituary of Matthew Scott Bradford

Matthew Scott Bradford, 18, of Wright slipped from this mortal world on August 11, 2003 from injuries received in an automobile accident. Matt was born on June 28, 1985 in Cloquet to Rick and Patty Bradford. He attended Wright Elementary School and graduated from Cromwell-Wright School in May of 2003. Matt was well liked by his classmates. The uniquely small school experience of attending all 12 grades with most of the same classmates created a special bond that Matt deeply felt and shyly acknowledged. He was a loyal friend and steadfast confidant whose unwavering commitment to confidentiality earned him the respect of all who knew him. Matt had made plans to attend Hibbing Community College and then UMD to earn a degree in Psychology. Those who knew him well knew that this was exactly the right field for him and one at which he would excel. Matt loved his older sister, Sarah, with a depth and commitment that knew no bounds. They had frequent and heartfelt talks, many common friends, and truly enjoyed each other's company. Matt spoke frequently and affectionately of having a family and becoming a father. He also had a particular fondness for pot bellied pigs and would proudly announce his intentions of having one someday. Matt and his family spent many summer weekends camping. This summer would have completed their 11 year quest to visit and camp at every state park in Minnesota. He was eager to continue joining his family on their camping weekends. But Matt's true love was football. Matt started playing football for Cromwell-Wright school in 7th grade, continued playing through successive grades and earned a letter his sophomore, junior and senior years as an offensive guard and a defensive tackle. Matt was a regular in the weight room and with hard work and determined effort, transformed himself physically into a tall, powerful and confident young man. But, Matt's love for the game was not drive by athletic prowess. His was a purer and more genuine love. It was a love of the intricacies; the mathematical precision of a well executed play; the last minute wrangling of a draft pick or the number placement on a new uniform design. Matt loved football. Anything football. Football games, football shows, football news, football clothes, football poster, football cards; if it involved football, it had Matt's immediate attention. Far from being a narrow and myopic field of interest, this was a vast and ever more exciting universe that he never tired of investigating. Matt is survived by his parents, Rick and Patty of Wright; sister, Sarah of Wright; grandparents, Olin and AnnaMae Barnes; grandmother, Gail Bradford; great uncle, aunt and cousins Gerald, Jeanette, Lane and Jeff Bradford; uncle, aunt and cousins Norman, Sandy, Daniel, and Kelli Larson; uncle, aunt and cousins, Harold, Diane and Jason Gordon and Jennifer Edwards; uncle Michael Barnes; uncle, aunt and cousins Chris, Angel and Nathan Barnes; uncle and cousins Bill, Ben, Ryan, and Dane Bradford; uncle aunt and cousins Mark, Julie, David, Andy and Laura Holien; uncle, aunt and cousins Ray, Jill, Stephanie, Rebecca and Joey Dale; numerous other family; and special friends, Dustin Rinta, Tara Smith and Justin Larson. Matt follows his grandfather, Gordon Bradford of Billings, MT, in to the next world and will surely be briefing him on the intricacies of 9 man football. Matthew is deeply loved, sorely missed and fondly remembered. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Matthew Bradford Scholarship Fund. A funeral service was held on August 16, 2003 in Bethany Lutheran Church, Cromwell. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery, Wright. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.