Bradley Craig Mize, 56 years old, was born in Kingsville, Texas on October 15, 1964, to Wanda Joyce Young and Donnie Mack Mize.  He grew up in Harrison, Arkansas and then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 7^th grade.  We attended Nathan Hale High School together and moved to Arkansas after graduation.  We married at 20, while attending the University, had three beautiful sons, by far his proudest accomplishment, and lived a wonderful life raising them with our families.  Brad started his own Aquarium Service company in Dallas, then got his HVAC Contractor license, after we moved home to Fayetteville, where he was proud to be a part of the University of Arkansas.

Brad rarely refused a game of golf.  The very best games were with all three boys.  He loved hiking and camping, hunting and fishing, and floating the rivers all his life.  I can’t begin to count the adventures, but they live in my sons, and his friends and family, and in me.  There’s a page in Tim Ernst’s book, detailing in Brad’s words, his experience helping to search for a lost little girl in the Buffalo National Forest, “solo renegade”, as he was.

Bradley made beautiful music.  He was so talented.  We all admired him.  From 12-strings at Spring Creek, jam sessions with friends, picking circles, garage bands, Sunday school nursery rhymes, long riffs with his brother, telephone birthday songs, and even strumming old favorites with me in recent years.  One year, he played a gig on our anniversary.  He jumped down from the stage, put his arms around me on the dance floor, still holding his strat behind my back, and he danced with me while his band played “you look wonderful tonight”.  He even played the solo, behind my back.  I felt so loved.

Brad passed away in his sleep, at home, of a heart attack on Sunday, September 5, 2021, in Fayetteville.  He is survived by me, Carla Margaret Fallen Mize, his wife of 36 years; his three, devoted sons, Forrest Allen Mize, Griffin Mack Mize, and Jasper Charles Mize; his daughter-in-love, Maria Elena Landin; his grandson, Christian Thiago Landin; his precious mother, Wanda Tull; his adoring sister, Cathy Johnson; his little brother, Greg Mize; his step-mother, Pat Mize; his mother-in-law, Betsy Corwin; his father and step-mother-in-law, Carl and Marlys Fallen; his steadfast brothers-in-law, Joel Grant Fallen, Trenton Johnson, and Terry Martin Corwin; his many aunts and uncles; nieces and nephews; great-nephews; step-in-laws; co-conspirator cousins in abundance; and friends, the dearest, best of friends too numerous to list.

We had the dream.  All of it.  His life was rich and full, and he wanted for nothing, except maybe a bigger mower.   We are a team; always have been.  We had such a good time being together the last couple of years, and even though we will always want more, we are eternally grateful for what feels like extra. We perfected the art of the grill and chill, built a driving range, dug rocks, built rock walls, expanded the chicken coop, built trails, planted an orchard and a berry patch, remodeled parts of the house, drove tractors and built a garden terrace, and made an unconscionably large fire pit.  If the garage stays dirty, we’ll know it was us, not him.  We’re not sure yet.  What we are sure of, is that we will miss him for every moment of every day until we are together again, and we love him unconditionally and eternally.

Funeral services for our Bradley Craig Mize will be Saturday, the 11^th 2021 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Masks for service in church, reception following outside on the veranda.  Stream on Youtube.

Instead of flowers or donations, we know Brad would want you to express your love to those you value.  Have an extra take-out night with your family, go on a hike together, play music and grill.  Build memories.  We did.

Cremation arrangements by Beard’s Funeral Chapel.