Bradford Lane Ravencraft

Bradford Lane Ravencraft, 60, died Dec. 9, 2024, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his loving family after fighting cancer for more than seven years.

Born on Oct. 9, 1964, in McComb, Miss., Brad was the youngest son of Hilton and Virginia Travis Ravencraft Allen. His family lived in Magnolia, Miss., and Brad graduated from South Pike High School in 1982. Brad had enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard on Sept. 30, 1981, and was trained as an indirect fire infantryman (11C). Brad married the love of his life, Wendy Leigh Cutrer, in 1984. Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Fort Carson, Colo., where Brad continued his active-duty service with the U.S. Army.

From May 1987 to March 1990, Brad served with the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Infantry at Fort Polk, La. He was then cross-trained as an Army recruiter, serving in Mankato, Minn., from April 1990 to March 1993. Afterward, he served as an indirect-fire infantryman at Fort Bliss, Texas, from May 1993 to July 1995. Sgt. Ravencraft served with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea at Camp Casey from June 1995 to July 1996 and at Fort Polk again from Oct. 1996 to Aug. 1999. From Sept. 1999 to June 2002, Brad served as an IMLC instructor at Fort Benning, Ga. His final assignment was as an Army recruiter at the recruiting station in Gulfport until his retirement on Feb. 29, 2004.

Brad was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Wayne E. Ravencraft and John A. Ravencraft, and his two beloved Pekingese, Coffee and Bosco.

Brad is survived by his wife of 40 years, Wendy Leigh Cutrer Ravencraft; two daughters, Ashton Haeleigh Ravencraft Olson (Shon) of Gulfport and Peyton Lane Ravencraft Densford (Sean) of McKinney, Texas; and his son, Bradford McCall Ravencraft (Erin) of Gulfport.

Brad is also survived by one sister, Virginia Aulene Ravencraft Brumfield (Don) of Cleveland, Miss.; one brother, Bart Ravencraft (Diana) of Tylertown, Miss.; his father-in-law, Joseph Lionel Cutrer of Gulfport; and his sister-in-law, Angie Cutrer, of Enon, Miss.

Brad leaves behind his granddaughters Ella Lane Densford and Emery Lumen Deniel Densford; his nieces, Summer Hope Cutrer Tierno (Tony), Savannah Quinn Cutrer-Welch Redd (Levi), Deborah Lynn Brumfield Usery, Jessica Ravencraft Polk (Taylor), Jennifer Ravencraft Holcomb (Jeremy), April Ravencraft McKenzie (Kevin), Laura Ravencraft, Melody Henry, Jenea Golden (Carlos), and one nephew, Craig Brumfield.

Brad loved his great nieces and nephews Veronica Alexis Tierno, Jaeleigh Hope Cutrer (Jacob), Keaton Cutrer Tierno (Jayla), Luci Claire Tierno, Elijah Christopher Redd, Annora Claire Redd, Nova Raine Redd, Paxley Elise Polk, Trace Elton Polk, Nathan Wesley Barnett, Dawson Curtis Bell, Julianne Olivia Bell, Destiny Steadham, DeAnna Steadham, Cole Murphree, Nickolas Boshart, Brandon Sean Mykle Clark, Anna Annette McKenzie, and several great-great nieces and nephews.

Brad’s best buddies, a shy Devon Rex named Maple and a spirited Apricot Standard Poodle named Baby, watch and wait at home with unwavering hope for his return.

The funeral service will be held at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home on O’Neal Road in Gulfport on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, with viewing beginning at 10 a.m. before the noon service. The graveside service will be at Roberts Cemetery in Osyka, Miss., at 3:30 p.m.

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of Bradford Ravencraft.