October 29, 2021
For Siskiyou Daily News
By Liz Bowen
ETNA – Keith Bradley is known throughout Siskiyou County as
the sheriff’s chaplain. To honor Keith for many years of service to law enforcement
and the military, he has been chosen to serve as the Etna Veterans’ Parade
Grand Marshal on Nov. 6, 2021. Start time for the parade is 11 a.m. – rain or
shine!
It was 25 years ago, when Keith joined the chaplain group
that works with the Siskiyou Sheriff’s Dept. His missionary and pastor work
began back in 1974 after he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. Keith
was drafted during the Vietnam time-period serving from 1969 to 1971, but he
ended up in Korea instead of Vietnam.
“Korea was pretty routine,” Keith said. He was in charge of
supply parts that were sent to various troops, but there was some tension as he
was stationed near the DMZ.
In 1967, Keith married Virginia Mason, but like many soldiers
he had to leave his wife and young son, Darren, while serving in Korea. They
were waiting for him, when Keith was discharged at Fort Sill, OK. During the
next three years, he was able to complete his college business degree.
It was then that Keith decided to go into the ministry, so he
and Virginia moved out to California to study at the Golden Gate Baptist
Theological Seminary. After graduation, the First Baptist church in San Rafael
called him as pastor. That was in 1976 and a second son, Hoyt, had joined the
family. He served there for 12 years. Then he and his family moved to far
Northern California, to Mt. Shasta, where he was an area missionary for the
Southern Baptist Church for another 12 years.
In 1996, it just seemed natural to join the chaplain group
that supports the Siskiyou Sheriff’s Department. Then, in 2000 Keith retired
from missionary work and became the sheriff’s senior chaplain. But, retirement
doesn’t last long in Siskiyou County and he was asked to pastor the Callahan
Community Church that same year. He is still there! And during that time, Keith
also served as pastor for the little community church over the mountain in
Cecilville. They met on Sunday afternoons after his morning service in Callahan.
Keith and Virginia live in Mt. Shasta City, so for 17 years while serving both
churches, they traveled 160 miles round trip every Sunday.
Keith explained the various aspects of chaplain service for
the sheriff’s dept. Right now, there are five chaplains in different areas of
the county.
“Our priority is the deputies themselves. We are there for
counseling if needed and to help during difficult situations,” he said. “The
job is to keep them from getting stressed – wellness is the key.”
Some of those situations include supporting deputies, when
they make death notifications and to also help those families. Then there are
bad traffic accidents, lost individuals to find, drug busts and, lately, a lot
of fires to work.
Within law enforcement, Keith sponsors a peace officer
memorial each May, where they remember those who have given their lives during
duty. And for more than 20 years, Keith has done a lot of cooking, barbecuing
and catering for law enforcement activities and other community activities.
When the officers go on drug and marijuana busts, they need to be fed. Keith is
typically there anyway, so why not feed them as well. He has had good friends
partner with his cooking and catering.
When asked what keeps him grounded, Keith responds that he
has his own support group, including his very supportive wife, Virginia, and
family. Both sons were involved in law enforcement; in fact Hoyt is retired
from the Siskiyou Sheriff’s Dept. and lives in Mt. Shasta with his family. Four
of Keith’s six grandchildren also live in Siskiyou County.
Keith has served as M.C. of many military veterans’
activities and programs and also does funeral services when asked. He was born
in Chadron, Nebraska on Dec. 13, 1944, but soon after his cowboy father moved
the family to Washington to work for a gas company. Yes, Keith is in his 70s,
but he just can’t seem to truly retire. Serving is in his blood and he likes to
do it.
So, be sure to attend the 20th Annual Etna
Veterans’ Parade on Saturday, Nov. 6th and wave a big “thank you” to
Keith for his years of service to his community and veterans. To join the
parade, call Heather Ford at 1-530-467-3193.
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