Bradley Clair Sutherland

Bradley Clair Sutherland, age 70, passed away peacefully on February 27, 2026, in Grapevine, Texas, surrounded by family and friends. Born on October 2, 1955, in Orange, California, to Dwight M. and Marilyn Mae (Kreitz) Sutherland, he joined his two older sisters, Carolyn and Karla.

Born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a rare heart defect, Brad was one of the first children to undergo the Blalock heart procedure at age five. He later had open heart surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at age eleven. Defying the odds, he went on to live a long, healthy, and happy life.

He grew up in Fullerton, California, surrounded by a large extended family of loving cousins, aunts, and uncles. He graduated from Sunny Hills High School in 1973 and earned his degree in Computer Science from Cal Poly Pomona in 1980. A natural social butterfly, Brad maintained many lifelong friendships. In 1980, he married Judy Stephens, and together they welcomed two daughters, Samantha and Jacquelyn, while living in California. In 1989, the family moved to Texas for Brad’s position with American Airlines, embracing a new chapter together. Through his career, he formed many enduring friendships. In 2013, the family grew when Samantha married Zach Chasin, giving Brad the son he had always wanted. In 2022, he became “Grandpa Granch” to his beloved grandson, Archer Finley.

Travel, friendship, and faith were central to Brad’s life. He visited many countries and landscapes, always choosing to be fully present in each moment. He took great pride in his Grapevine community of thirty-five years, where he was an active member of the Grapevine Wine Pouring Society, the Grapevine Garden Club, and St. Francis Catholic Church. He cherished simple pleasures—bacon, a perfectly grilled steak, and a well-made Old Fashioned—and remained a loyal fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Stars. Above all, Brad found joy in pausing on quiet benches to observe the world around him: the birds, trees, butterflies, and the everyday wonders of nature and people. He is survived by his wife Judy, daughters Samantha and Jacquelyn, son-in-law Zach, grandson Archer, and his extended family, who will carry his once-in-a-lifetime spirit with them always.