Jackie Bradley (right) with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.
TWISP – Jacqueline “Jackie” L. Bradley, who served nine 4-year terms as Okanogan County Clerk, died in a fatal accident last Monday, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The retired county clerk, 73, was driving a 1997 Lincoln Continental eastbound on state Highway 20, about 11 miles east of Twisp around noon, when the car left the roadway, rolled and came to rest on its top. The long-time county clerk, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was declared deceased at the scene, according to WSP Trooper C. Bruner’s accident report. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Bradley, a leading figure in Okanogan County politics, has served as chairman of the county’s Democratic Party for several decades. Originally appointed as county clerk in 1972, Bradley first ran for office in 1974 and served a total of 38 years in that position, the longest serving county official in the state at the time of her retirement in 2010. Prior to her stint in the clerk’s office, Bradley worked in the county treasurer’s office for 12 years. After taking care of Superior Court records for so long, the always fashionably dressed Bradley was awarded the Warren G. Magnuson Award for lifetime achievement by the Washington State Democrats in a ceremony held in Seattle. In February Bradley was elected as vice-president to the Fourth Congressional District by her party.
“I worked with her for 30 years and I’ve always been amazed at how much energy she has,” said Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Jack Burchard about his longtime court clerk. “I know she was just arranging the caucus the day before yesterday.
“She just loved politics… never got tired of it or soured on it. It’s going to be very strange without her here in the community.”
Born in Portland, Ore., Bradley has lived in Okanogan County since she was four-years-old. Her great grandparents were among the first settlers of Chesaw in the Okanogan Highlands and she was proud of her pioneer heritage. She was raised by her grandmother, Grace McLean.
See obituaries for information on her funeral service.
